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Frost & Sullivan Honors Qlik(R) For Leadership In The Big Data Analytics Market

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Based on its recent research of the data discovery and visualization (DDV) segment in the big data analytics market, Frost & Sullivan today announced that it is presenting the 2014 Frost & Sullivan Award for Market Leadership in Global Big Data Analytics – DDV segment to Qlik (NASDAQ: QLIK), a leader in user-driven Business Intelligence (BI). DDV solutions offer capabilities to integrate, transform, analyze and graphically represent visual relationships across multiple data sources. Amidst intense competition from a number of pure-play and point solution vendors, Qlik has achieved this Frost & Sullivan distinction by maintaining a relentless focus on product innovation and offering a highly flexible end-user experience to its customers.

Qlik’s growth and innovation in the category of user-driven data discovery and visualization continues as customers want to move from passively receiving reports to actively participating in analysis. The Company announced it will release a free desktop version of its next-generation product QlikView.Next early in the third quarter of 2014. Qlik will also make available a cloud service for small group sharing of analysis with the desktop version. The desktop edition business analytics users will be able to leverage QlikView. Next’s intuitive features to build a customized application in minutes by just dragging and dropping, experiencing many of the Natural Analytics™ user interface capabilities before the server and enterprise functionality of the complete platform is expected to be generally available in the second half of 2014.  

Over these years of continued innovation and changing the face of BI, Qlik has maintained its commitment to become the de facto global standard for how people gain insight from their data.  With QlikView’s® patented core technology, associative experience, and collaboration and mobile capabilities, users can ask and answer streams of questions on their own or in teams and groups, wherever they are working. Users can continue to explore information freely, rather than being confined to a predefined path of questions, and gain rapid time to value in deployments that can be productive in just days or weeks. QlikView also offers data governance capabilities to provide the security and control required by enterprise IT.

“Qlik is widely used by end users from a number of industry verticals, including healthcare, retail, banking and financial services, telecommunication as well as media and entertainment. Furthermore, Qlik is working on the next generation of its software with QlikView.Next,” said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Hiral Jasani. “With this latest release, Qlik will offer a complete technology platform surrounded by an ecosystem of people, services, and applications that reinvents data discovery and visualization.”

Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for outstanding achievement in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research.

Key performance areas for Qlik include growth strategy excellence; growth implementation excellence; depth of product suite; degree of innovation with products and technologies; and speed of response to market needs and global expansion. 

More information on Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Awards, including the award research methodology, can be found here: http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/our-services-page.pag?sid=222013561

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About Qlik

Qlik (NASDAQ: QLIK) simplifies how people explore their data to help them make better decisions.  With its QlikView Business Discovery platform, people quickly bring data sources together to create dynamic visual applications that can be navigated and searched intuitively. QlikView uses Natural Analytics to reflect the way human curiosity searches and processes information while delivering the enterprise manageability, governance and service offerings organizations require. Qlik and its global partner network support approximately 32,000 customers in over 100 countries.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Frost & Sullivan
Mireya Espinoza
P: 210.247.3870
F: 210.348.1003
E: mireya.espinoza@frost.com

Qlik
Angela Maglione
P: 617.658.5386
E: angela.maglione@qlikview.com

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E-House Launches Home Price Ratings Website

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SHANGHAI, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — E-House (China) Holdings Limited (“E-House” or the “Company”) (NYSE: EJ), a leading real estate services company in China, today announced the launch of its home price ratings website www.fangjiadp.com and related mobile app (“Fangjiadp“), both of which operate under the Company’s real estate information and consulting business unit, CRIC. The website and app currently cover more than 4,000 new residential developments in 21 cities, as well as more than 30,000 existing residential compounds in 5 cities in China.

Fangjiadp provides independent home price estimates, qualitative reviews, and ratings for primary and secondary market residential compounds. By entering an address (down to each individual apartment unit level) or compound name, consumers can instantly obtain the estimated market value of both new and previously-owned properties, as well as CRIC’s expert opinions on other aspects of the properties. Properties are rated as “strongly recommended buy,” “recommended buy,” “buy with caution” or “recommend waiting.” Once a consumer locates a property of interest, Fangjiadp will also list four similar properties in the area that are in the same price range so that consumers can compare estimated values and other aspects of the properties.

Xin Zhou, E-House’s co-chairman and CEO, said, “Fangjiadp is developed by highly experienced analysts with many years of industry knowledge and is backed by CRIC’s comprehensive and powerful real estate database. In addition to its wide and comprehensive coverage, Fangjiadp’s unique user interface allows consumers to conduct one-on-one conversations with CRIC’s home price analysts. We believe Fangjiadp brings a new experience and unique value to home buyers and sellers that has never before existed.  As part of our planned upgrade for Fangjiadp, consumers will be able to not only communicate with our home price analysts, but also write their own listing reviews while interacting with other consumers and industry experts to obtain relevant information and recommendations. For our CRIC unit, the launch of Fangjiadp represents the expansion of its customer base from what had historically been businesses and government entities to consumers, and illustrates its position as an independent and unbiased real estate information source.”

About E-House

E-House (China) Holdings Limited (“E-House”) (NYSE: EJ) is China’s leading real estate services company with a nationwide network covering more than 250 cities. E-House offers a wide range of services to the real estate industry, including online advertising, primary sales agency, secondary brokerage, information and consulting, offline advertising and promotion and real estate investment management services. E-House has received numerous awards for its innovative and high-quality services, including “China’s Best Company” from the National Association of Real Estate Brokerage and Appraisal Companies and “China Enterprises with the Best Potential” from Forbes. For more information about E-House, please visit http://www.ehousechina.com.

Safe Harbor: Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “may,” “intend,” “confident,” “is currently reviewing,” “it is possible,” “subject to” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release, as well as E-House’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. E-House may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 20-F and 6-K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about E-House’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained, either expressly or impliedly, in any of the forward-looking statements in this press release. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, a severe or prolonged downturn in the global economy, E-House’s susceptibility to fluctuations in the real estate market of China, government measures aimed at China’s real estate industry, failure of the real estate services industry in China to develop or mature as quickly as expected, diminution of the value of E-House’s brand or image, E-House’s inability to successfully execute its strategy of expanding into new geographical markets in China, E-House’s failure to manage its growth effectively and efficiently, E-House’s failure to successfully execute the business plans for its strategic alliances and other new business initiatives, E-House’s loss of its competitive advantage if it fails to maintain and improve its proprietary CRIC system or to prevent disruptions or failure in the system’s performance, E-House’s failure to compete successfully, fluctuations in E-House’s results of operations and cash flows, E-House’s reliance on a concentrated number of real estate developers, natural disasters or outbreaks of health epidemics and other risks outlined in E-House’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of this press release, and E-House does not undertake any obligation to update any such information, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

In China:

Investor Relations
E-House (China) Holdings Limited
Phone: +86 (21) 6133-3937
E-mail: ir@ehousechina.com

Mr. Derek Mitchell
Ogilvy Financial, Beijing
Phone: +86 (10) 8520-3073
E-mail: ej@ogilvy.com

In the United States:

Mr. Justin Knapp
Ogilvy Financial, U.S.
Phone: +1 (616) 551-9714
E-mail: ej@ogilvy.com

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Laffer’s International Tobacco Taxation Handbook Gives Governments Roadmap to Optimize Tax Revenues

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LONDON, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — As excise taxes become increasingly important throughout the world, Dr. Arthur Laffer today released his international tobacco tax handbook, cautioning that “one size does not fit all” in tobacco tax policy and offering governments practical examples and case studies to consider in order to optimize tobacco excise tax revenues. 

“Tobacco taxes represent an essential source of tax revenue for most countries across the globe,” Laffer said during today’s release of his Handbook of Tobacco Taxation – Theory and Practice. “Governments levy excise taxes on tobacco to achieve fiscal and public health objectives. Because the goal of reducing smoking incidence cannot be understated, this handbook is for everyone interested in setting tobacco tax policy as it focuses on using tax as the solution to the tobacco consumption problem.” 

Laffer found that the unique aspects of tax structure and economic environments make taking a blanket approach to tax levels or tax systems unadvisable. Instead, governments should tailor their approach to tobacco taxation, taking into consideration a range of factors.

“It’s important to think twice about the mounting pressure on the international level to create an overarching tobacco tax structure and level for every country across the globe,” Laffer also said.  “One size does not fit all.  Tobacco regulation and taxation are complex matters that require consideration of a number of political, economic, and demographic factors prior to deciding on tax structures and levels.”

The Laffer Curve illustrates the relationship between tax rates and tax revenue. In most instances when tobacco rates are increased, government revenue increases. However, there are increasingly examples of countries, including the UK and Ireland, whose rates have entered the so-called “prohibitive range” of the Curve. 

“When setting tax levels, dramatic increases can be counterproductive,” Laffer said. “Once tax levels are in the prohibitive range of the Laffer Curve, tax revenues will fall.  If consumers shift to lower taxed or black market products, the tax increase may not even lead to less smoking.”

Laffer’s handbook advises governments to construct their tax systems based on four principles.  These include:

  1. CLEAR PRODUCT CATEGORIES – So that revenue is not lost in “loophole products,” setting precise tobacco product category definitions while amending and updating these categories.
  2. SOLID TAX STRUCTURES – The excise tax structure should support stable and predictable collections and ensure, as much as possible, that excise tax increases translate into government tax revenue increases.
  3. CORRECT TAX LEVELS – To prevent consumers from turning to lower priced products on the black market following tax increases, ensure the correct tax level is applied to each category.
  4. EFFICIENT COLLECTION SYSTEM – To minimize administrative burdens on tax payers and tax collectors, and ensure efficient payment of tobacco taxes by all manufactures and importers.
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Brandma.Co Received Strategic Investment from Seinosuke Sato

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HONG KONG, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Brandma.Co Limited, the leading brand management and protection expert in China, announced on July 16, 2014 that Mr. Seinosuke Sato has made an early-stage strategic investment to the company. The deal was completed last week in Hong Kong with the terms undisclosed.

Mr. Sato is a renowned entrepreneur and investor in Silicon Valley and Tokyo. His most recent venture is BrainPad Inc., an industry pioneer in the Big Data field, which offers cutting-edge analytical services and solutions to large-scale web portals, as well as serving retail, finance, telecom, and e-commerce enterprises in Japan. “I firmly believe Brandma has already seized the window of opportunity in the China market,” said Mr. Sato. “The team has demonstrated terrific power of execution and is fulfilling the demanding needs for brand protection in China. I will assist Brandma by enhancing its data processing and analytics capability, upgrading its online brand monitoring and fraud detection mechanism, as well as accelerating Brandma’s global expansion strategy.”

“It’s our honor to earn distinguished investors like Sato-san’s recognition of Brandma’s value and share our vision,” said Mr. Ching Chiao, Founder and the CEO of Brandma.Co. “With Sato-san’s guidance and experience, Brandma is advancing to become a world-class technology company. Our existing customers and partners can rest assured that Brandma continues to offer a reliable, scalable and secure platform for protecting their domain names, trademarks, as well as other digital brand assets. Most importantly, we will keep acting proactively and aggressively in acquiring customers to sustain our market leader position in this competitive market.”

Mr. Chiao also serves as an ICANN GNSO Councilor who oversees the global top-level domain name policies, and a Board Member of .asia TLD registry. He founded Brandma.Co Limited in early 2013 and the company has operations in Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Taipei.

Media contact:

Ms. Cathy Peng
+86-10-650084677 (CN)

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Max Bupa Recognized as ‘Model Insurer Asia of the Year’ for Effective Implementation of Technology Enabled by Newgen

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SINGAPORE, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Max Bupa Health Insurance has been recognized as the Celent Model Insurer of Asia for 2014, one of the most coveted honour in APAC region, for effective technology usage in insurance. With a strong focus on utilizing technology to deliver the best in class service, Max Bupa is creating a benchmark in the industry through innovative IT practices. Max Bupa’s focus from the time of inception has been to evolve and transform customer experience, by offering exceptional customer service through smart and hassle free processes.

Max Bupa implemented Newgen Software Technologies’ BPM solution to automate core processes like New Business, Claims, Healthcare Provider Enrolment, Agent Licensing, and Renewals. These solutions together enhanced customer experience through improved interactions, and reduced customer response timelines. Newgen’s mobility application ZapIn enabled end to end automation of the highly critical New Business process thus providing a uniform end user experience. Through this implementation, Max Bupa became the first insurer in India to introduce a mobility application into its customer acquisition process.

Commenting on the win, Somesh Chandra, Director – Customer Service, Operations and Technology, Max Bupa said, “It is an honour to be recognized for our technological prowess by Celent. At Max Bupa, we have a strong focus on utilizing technology to deliver the best in class service and a seamless experience to our customers, partners and employees. We have a clear roadmap to ensure our technology implementation maintains a competitive edge and addresses evolving customer needs. The innovative IT solutions by Newgen have helped us streamline and automate our customer facing business processes.”

Puneet Nath Kapil, Vice-President (IT), Max Bupa added, “We needed a solution to bring about overall improvement in terms of process efficiency, SLA adherence and customer engagements. Newgen with its vast domain expertise, robust product platforms and invigorating business solutions helped us significantly improve our customer response rate.”

Diwakar Nigam, MD & CEO, Newgen Software said, “Every implementation we undertake comes with a unique set of challenges. We have, over the years strived to find invigorating solutions to these challenges. Max Bupa’s win is a testimonial of our success.”

Celent is a leading research and consulting firm focused on the application of information technology in the global financial services industry. Max Bupa won this honour amongst the 18 other insurers.

Media contact: Asif Khan, +65-6221-8432, Asif.khan@newgen.co.in

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