• Business Day (South Africa): Emerging markets

Loan notes due in

less than one year (250) - - - (250)

Bank loans due in

more than one year (654,841) (582) 30,537 7,513 (617,373)

Finance leases due

in less than one

year (8) - - - (8)

Finance leases due

in more than one

year (6) - - - (6)

------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Total (738,410) (582) 11,075 7,559 (720,358)

------- ------- ------- ------- -------


Cash and cash equivalents (which are presented as a single class of assets on the face of the balance sheet) comprise cash at bank and other short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less.
Notes to the Unaudited Interim Statements - continued For the Six Months Ended 30 June 2007
11 Business Combinations Cash paid on acquisition net of cash acquired
Date acquired 6 months 6 months 12 months

2007 2006 2006

£'000 £'000 £'000

Current period

acquisitions

Prepaid Card Expo 19 January 2007 1,518 - -

By Legal for Legal Limited 31 January 2007 228 - -

MECOM & MEMEX 22 February 874 - -

2007

Nicholas Publishing

International 25 February 749 - -

2007

Infoline Conferences Limited 23 March 2007 4,347 - -

Investment Scorecard, Inc. 4 April 2007 25,180 - -

Forum Pacific Rim Franchises 11 May 2007 4,089 - -

TMTG Asia Pte Ltd 14 June 2007 847 - -

Other 1,166 - -

Prior-year acquisitions

2006 acquisitions:

Cavendish Publishing Limited - 6,055 6,055

M-Solutions - 10,194 10,143

Cordial Events Limited - - 1,491

IPEX - 7,344 7,343

Parks & Company 64 - 2,522

Librapharm Limited - - 22,213

Integrated Cultures Inc. - - 1,304

IPSA, Inc. - - 3,710

David Fulton Publishers

Limited (53) - 4,684

FAB4 - - 288

Abu Dhabi Wedding Show - - 536

Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,

Inc. - - 34,806

Citeline, Inc. - - 24,768

Junction Limited 32 - 6,382

Other - 6,110 3,860

2005 acquisitions:

Mark Two Communications BV 49 - -

Medic-to-Medic1 4,087 - 113

IIR Holdings Limited2 - - 2,417

Other 86 81 84

2004 acquisitions:

Cass3 - - 3,328

Dekker - - 160

Falconbury Limited 499 - -

Other 196 - -

43,958 29,784 136,207


1 In respect of the Medic-to-Medic acquisition, the deferred consideration was paid in 2007.
2 Cash paid in relation to the July 2005 acquisition of IIR Holdings Limited was in respect of deferred consideration for the Omega group of performance improvement businesses.
3 In respect of the Cass acquisition, an earn out payment was made during 2006.
Notes to the Unaudited Interim Statements - continued For the Six Months Ended 30 June 2007
12 Post Balance Sheet Events
The following acquisitions were made subsequent to the period end. The consideration amounts disclosed are based on completion accounts and are subject to change.
Consideration Date acquired £'000
HQ Link Pte Limited 3 July 2007 3,259

Shared insights 9 July 2007 3,469

Datamonitor plc1 13 July 2007 502,000

Productivity Press 31 July 2007 5,365

The Superyacht Cup 3 August 2007 1,279


1On 13 July 2007, the Group declared its £502m offer for the issued share capital of Datamonitor plc, a leading global provider of market intelligence through on-line data, analysis and forecasting platforms, unconditional in all respects. Settlement of the consideration due under the offer began on 27 July 2007 in respect of those valid offer acceptances received by 13 July 2007 representing 76.05% of the existing issued Datamonitor plc share capital. The remaining consideration will be paid within 14 days of further valid acceptances being received.
Directors and Advisers
Directors Registered Office
Peter Rigby (Chairman) Informa plc

David Gilbertson (Chief Executive) Mortimer House

Anthony Foye (Finance Director) 37-41 Mortimer Street

Derek Mapp (Senior Non-Executive London W1T 3JH

Director)

Sean Watson (Non-Executive Director)

Dr Pamela Kirby (Non-Executive Registration

Director)

John Davis (Non-Executive Director) Registered in England and Wales Number

3099067

Secretary Stockbrokers

John Burton Hoare Govett Limited

250 Bishopsgate

Public Relations London EC2M 4AA

Maitland Merrill Lynch International

Orion House Merrill Lynch Financial Centre

5 Upper St Martin's Lane 2 King Edward Street

London WC2H 9EA London EC1A 1HQ

Principal Lawyers Registrars

CMS Cameron McKennaLloyds TSB Registrars

Mitre House The Causeway

160 Aldersgate Street Worthing

London EC1A 4DD West Sussex BN99 6DA

Ashurst Auditors

Broadwalk House Deloitte & Touche LLP

5 Appold Street Chartered Accountants

London EC2A 2HA Abbots House, Abbey Street

Reading

Berkshire RG1 3BD

This information is provided by RNS


The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
Document RNS0000020070830e38u000me
Features

WATCH THIS SPACE

1,318 words

28 August 2007

Flight International

FLIGI

219

English

(c) Copyright 2007. Reed Business Information Limited. All rights reserved.
WATCH THIS SPACE
ROB COPPINGER BEIJING
China has demonstrated its military capability in orbit, but its space ambitions are directed more towards serving the needs of its developing society
Beyond the international controversy over China's anti-satellite test in January, two lower-profile events, the May Nigcomsat-1 and July Chinasat 6B launches, represent the real direction the world's most populous nation is taking on the high frontier.
Rather than just developing weapons to counter potential adversaries' space-based military assets, China's overall aim is to independently deploy constellations to deliver services for its rapidly developing society, as well as other nations.
David Soo, affiliated fellow of the Netherlands' International Institute for Asian Studies, believes the launch of the Thales Alenia Space-built Chinasat is the beginning of the end for foreign interference in China's space activities, such as US International Traffic in Arms Regulations vetos, and portends a boost for China's commercial launch services.
ITAR FREEDOM
"The significance [of the launch of an ITAR-free satellite] is that: one, it can be done and two, Chinese launchers are very much cheaper that Western ones," he says. Thales Alenia Space says the Spacebus 4000C2 satellite platform used for Chinasat 6B has no components "from the US Munitions List and [therefore] subject to ITAR control".
Access to Western technology that cannot be blocked by other foreign powers can only aid Beijing's space ambitions. Historically China's satellite launches have been hindered by ITAR restrictictions, contributing to a limited 24 commercial launches over 22 years.This pales in comparison with just one launch provider, International Launch Services, which made more than 30 commercial launches between 1995 and 2000.
The US Department of State's bureau of political military affairs, which oversees ITAR, declines to comment, but the Vienna-based European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) says Washington's export restrictions mean certain launch providers are excluded from launching satellites with US components. The development of ITAR-free satellites means that limitation will be circumvented.
In its June report on China, ESPI agrees the country wants to make the most of economic opportunities provided by access to the international space market. "[Chinese] leaders continue to refer to a market-oriented economy. This will certainly imply competition bet­ween the Chinese and foreign actors in the near future," the report says.
Two such market wins are the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST)-built Nigcomsat-1 for Nigeria and Venesat-1 for Venezuela, which is to be launched next year.These were not only competitive wins, but also geopolitically important as both countries are oil-rich and non-aligned.
Both spacecraft use CAST's DongFangHong (DFH)-4 satellite bus, its first three-axis-stabilised spacecraft. Although the DFH-4-based Sinosat 2 broadcast satellite failed because of solar array deployment problems in 2006, that is not necessarily a problem, according to Isabelle Sourbes-Verger, a senior researcher on space policy and programmes at France's national centre for scientific research. "Even if it is not the best satellite," she says, "do [developing country] customers really want something that good if they can get it so cheap"
While its existing spacecraft, even with their reliability issues, may be sufficient for Beijing's short-term geopolitical goals, the government's space activities white paper, published in 2003, outlines a more ambitious future. Its targets are Earth observation, satellite telecommunications and broadcasting, and a space-based navigation system independent of the US military's Navstar GPS and the European Union's Galileo.
Shanghai-based Chinese space programme watcher Chen Lan is confident the growing superpower can deliver the white paper's goals. "China will have its own comprehensive space infrastructure for the first time at the beginning of the next decade," he says.
"You will see building of the navigation constellation the data relay system space environment monitoring system Earth observation satellites covering high-resolution military reconnaissance radar, oceanographic and weather monitoring satellites, and more," says Chen.
building pace
This building of constellations is reflected in the Chinese launch rate. According to industry analyst Ascend Worldwide, China is only third behind the USA and Russia in launches so far this year. Russia has conducted 12 launches for a total of 28 satellites the USA 11 for 21 spacecraft and China has launched eight satellites using seven rockets.
One of these seven launches was of a Beidou geostationary satellite for the future Chinese navigation system. Four Beidou-related launches have taken place since 2000. Space-based navigation is a "strategic domain" for China, says ESPI.
The Chinese government's follow-up to its 2003 space activities white paper, published in December 2006, says launch and implementation of the Beidou system is a "major task" to be completed by 2012.
The Beidou system is a series of geostationary satellites for the Compass positioning system, which became public in 2005 when China requested the necessary frequencies and orbital slots from the International Telecommunications Union.
China has also joined the European Union's Galileo satellite navigation programme and has 12 contracts relating to infrastructure elements including search-and-rescue transponders. Although China has joined Galileo, Soo is not so sure the agreement will be followed through. "The speculation is that they may be thinking of a Chinese GPS and rethinking their involvement in Galileo."
going it alone
Others are less willing to believe China will withdraw from Galileo to focus on its own system, which may prove to be less capable. "On electronics alone they are a generation behind Western spacecraft," according to Sourbes-Verger.
Given that it is trailing in technology, co-operation would seem to be China's only route to achieving its space ambitions, but the provocative ASAT test shows that Beijing's does not always adhere to its stated policies. There has been an international outcry at the massive debris field created by the ASAT test, in which a satellite was destroyed by the impact of a ground-launched missile, yet the government's 2006 white paper says: "China will make efforts to explore...means to mitigate and reduce space debris".
ESPI takes the view that the test could harm China's hopes for co-operation, saying: "The recent ASAT test may create a more reluctant attitude among potential co-operation partners". This disparity between policy and action leads ESPI to question the degree of control the Central Military Commission (CMC) has over the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The CMC is supposed to oversee the army, which runs China's military space programme as well as its manned spaceflight effort.
Begun in 1992, the human spaceflight programme has three stages that include the manned launches of Shenzhou-5 and -6 in 2003 and 2005, a future spacewalk, a docking between two spacecraft and operation of the resulting space laboratory.
But the spacewalk mission is looking more distant after the delay, announced in 2006, with the admission from China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, now vice-director of the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, that only pre-tank training had begun (Flight International, 29 May-4 June 2006).
technology first
Indications are that having demonstrated its superpower capability with the ASAT test, and with no sense of a Cold War-like competition with the USA, China is not budgeting for rapid progress in manned space missions.
Chen sees the manned programme as an aside, with longer-term space technology development more important. "China has also increased investments in technology, such as electric propulsion and air launch," he says. "The manned programme does not represent the [space] programme."
China's focus on advancing its space capabilities is not lost on Western industry. Francois Auque, chief executive of European manu­facturer EADS Space, has said: "Within 10-15 years, if we go on like this, China will be selling us satellites."
Free reuse - RBI + third parties
Document FLIGI00020070828e38s0000z
Mobile_Tornado_Group_PLC_-_Directorate_Change'>Mobile Tornado Group PLC - Directorate Change
467 words

24 August 2007

06:19 AM

Regulatory News Service

RNS

English

(c) 2007
RNS Number:7710C Mobile Tornado Group PLC 24 August 2007
Mobile Tornado Group plc
("Mobile Tornado" or "the Company")
Board Change
Mobile Tornado announces that on 23 October 2006, Richard James was appointed a director of the Company. Following an administrative oversight by the Company no regulatory announcement had previously been made.
Richard qualified as a solicitor with Allen & Overy in 1986 and was a Partner at Pinsent Curtis in 1991 before moving to Hammond Suddards as a Partner in 1996. Richard is also a director and company secretary of InTechnology Group plc.
The contents of this announcement include the full disclosures required under Schedule 2, Para (g) of the AIM Rules.
For further details please contact:
Mobile Tornado Group plc
Jeremy Fenn, Chief Financial Officer Tel: [phone]
Blue Oar Securities Plc
Rhod Cruwys/ Romil Patel Tel: [phone]
Buchanan Communications
Charles Ryland / James Strong Tel: [phone]
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Richard Mark James (aged 46) is currently, or has been in the past five years, a director of the following companies:
Current: Past:

InTechnology Group plc Alliance Pharma Plc

Integrated Technology (Europe) Limited Go Interact TV Limited

Vdata Limited Digital Interactive Television Group Limited

Holf Technologies Limited Interactive Television Infrastructure Company Limited

Allasso Limited Digital Impact (UK) Limited

Eescape Holdings Limited Digital Television Production Company Limited

Evoxus Limited Digital Interactive Studio Centre Limited

Call-Link Communications Limited The Gaming Channel Bookmakers Limited

Bingo Bingo Limited

The Gaming Channel Limited

Pannal Plc

The New Gadget Shop Limited

P W Investments Limited

Avago Games Limited

Allasso France SAS

Allasso GmBH

Allasso Benelucx BV

Allasso Italia S.r.l.

Allasso Informatica Espana S.A.

Mobile Tornado International Limited

Superstadium Management Company Limited

The Hull City Association Football Club (Tigers) Limited


Richard James was a director of The Gadget Shop Limited and The New Gadget Shop Limited, both of which went into administration in March 2005. The outcome of the administration process is as yet unknown.
Richard James currently has an interest in 3,159,870 ordinary shares of the Company, representing 1.84 per cent. of the total voting capital.
About Mobile Tornado
Mobile Tornado Group plc is listed on AIM in London. It sells software licences and services to mobile operators and enterprises worldwide through a number of distribution partners. These partners include Nortel and Alcatel.Mobile Tornado specialises in providing platforms and applications in the mobile data services market including presence-based messaging, push to talk, push to video and related services. 10 networks are currently licensed to use the Group's technology and the countries served now include China, India, and Nigeria.
This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
Document RNS0000020070824e38o001e7

Global Business

Mixed Reviews for Sony's E-Waste Plan; Environmental groups criticize the tech giant because it won't bear the entire cost of recycling its products in the U.S.

Kenji Hall

1,159 words

22 August 2007

BusinessWeek Online

BWOL

English

Copyright 2007 McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Environmental groups can be a tough crowd to please. Just ask Sony (SNE). Within days of announcing that it would begin recycling any unwanted Sony gadget in the U.S. for free, the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant was already catching flak from environmentalists who believe that Sony should be doing even more.
Sony's recycling plan, unveiled on Aug. 16, looks good on paper. Starting in mid-September in 18 states, the company will open 75 drop-off centers operated by trash-hauler Waste Management (WMI). Within a year, the number of facilities is expected to double, with at least one in every state, and will continue to multiply until there are 1,000 nationwide. Even non-Sony products can be recycled, for a fee. The whole program will involve a "significant investment" for Sony, says Richard Clancy, Sony Electronics senior vice-president.
No other tech manufacturer with as diverse a product mix as Sony even comes close to attempting such a large-scale takeback program. So why aren't environmentalists showering praise on Sony? Because the company won't bear the entire cost of recycling its products in the U.S.
California Fees
Though Sony's new plan will offer free recycling services in nearly every state, consumers buying a new TV or laptop computer in California will be footing part of the bill themselves. There, Sony and a dozen other tech manufacturers have successfully lobbied to have consumers pay what's known as advanced recycling fees [ARFs].
To environmentalists, such fees are antithetical to the promises that manufacturers have made elsewhere. "Sony has committed to individual producer responsibility in Europe, and yet it supports fees in the U.S. that go against the idea," Greenpeace's Zeina Alhajj says. "That's a double standard."
The criticism strikes at the core of a longstanding debate about who should pay for dismantling and recycling unwanted gadgets. It's a polarizing issue, and the squabbling has slowed progress in finding practical solutions that encourage consumers to recycle the antiquated electronics clogging closets and filing cabinets at home.
Japan Leads the Way
Since 2001, Japan has had laws requiring that TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners get recycled. It works like this: Consumers pay retailers to take back their old TVs and appliances, which get sent to the manufacturers for recycling. Sony has a recycling network with five other Japanese tech manufacturers, and its cathode-ray-tube TVs are now recycled at 15 plants across Japan. In the year ended March, 2006, roughly 650,000 Sony CRT sets were recycled.
These days, though, it's generally still easier for Americans to dump old PCs, monitors,