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Continental Successfully Refinances

- New agreement on EUR4.5 billion syndicated loan signed

- Terms through 2016 and 2018 further improving Continentals debt maturity profile

- Higher degree of security thanks to geographically broader consortium of banks

Hanover, January 23, 2013. The international automotive supplier Continental has signed a new syndicated loan agreement, thereby further improving its debt maturity profile. Committed to by approximately 30 domestic and international banks, the credit amount has been reduced slightly. It now totals EUR4.5 billion and is split up into two tranches of differing duration - a loan in the amount of EUR1.5 billion, with a term of three years, and a five-year revolving credit line in the amount of EUR3 billion. For the new syndicated loan, Continental has been able to obtain the release of the asset collateral previously put up for the financing and has also implemented further simplifications with regards to the documentation.

The new loan agreement not only improves our financing and debt maturity profile but also puts our financing on a geographically broader footing, reported Continental CFO Wolfgang Schfer following the signing of the new agreement, adding: This will enable us to better absorb regional fluctuations in the global capital market environment in the future and generally respond more flexibly to volatile markets. The great trust that the banks have again demonstrated gives us renewed confidence that with our long-term strategy, we are pursuing the right path for Continental.

Mainly by launching five bonds and generating free cash flow (FCF), the DAX 30 company had, in the interim, been able to reduce almost EUR9 billion off the original EUR13.5 billion syndicated loan agreed in 2007. In the last three years, the companys net indebtedness has dropped by more than EUR2.5 billion. At the end of the 3rd quarter of 2012, it stood at EUR6.8 billion. The gearing ratio (net indebtedness divided by total equity) amounted to 78 percent at that point in time. Continental closed the third quarter of 2012 with unused credit line commitments in the amount of just under EUR2.6 billion. Up until then, the company had availed a mere EUR602 million of the EUR2.5 billion revolving credit line under the terms of the previous syndicated loan.

On March 7, 2013, Continental will present preliminary figures for fiscal year 2012 at its Annual Press Conference in Frankfurt/Main.

With provisional sales of EUR32.7 billion in 2012, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has more than 170,000 employees in 46 countries.

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DGAP-News: Continental AG: Continental Successfully Refinances

The Associated Press Published Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 9:00AM EST Last Updated Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 1:39PM EST

LONDON -- Prince Harry's admission that he killed Taliban fighters while working as a helicopter gunner in Afghanistan drew intense British media coverage Tuesday and sparked concerns about possible reprisals.

The 28-year-old prince spoke in a pooled interview published late Monday after he was safely out of Afghanistan. He had spent the last 20 weeks deployed as a co-pilot and gunner in a heavily armed Apache attack helicopter.

Asked if he had killed from the cockpit, the third-in-line to the British throne said: "Yeah, so, lots of people have."

The response was immediate Tuesday: The Daily Mirror tabloid ran a page-one headline "Royal Sensation Harry: I Killed Taliban" along with a photo of a macho-looking Harry in combat gear and designer shades.

Other newspapers ran similar gung-ho stories about the prince's military exploits. "Harry: I Have Killed" was the story in the Daily Mail.

Video shot during the prince's deployment was shown dozens of times on Britain's major news networks.

In Parliament on Tuesday, Defence Minister Mark Francois praised Harry, saying the prince should be commended for his bravery.

He "has done well for his country," Francois said, offering kind words for a prince who has occasionally embarrassed the royal family, most recently by being photographed naked as he played strip billiards at a Las Vegas hotel.

Many in Harry's family have also seen combat -- most recently his uncle, Prince Andrew, who flew Royal Navy helicopters during the 1982 Falklands War. Prince Philip, his grandfather, served on Royal Navy battleships during World War II.

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Word of Prince Harry's military exploits sparks fear of reprisals

It's happened - the word 'phablet' has entered the mainstream.

Once used only by industry insiders - and those trying to deceive a partner into letting them buy another gadget - "phablet" is a portmanteau which describes a touchscreen device which is sort-of-too-big to be a phone, but sort-of-too-small to be a tablet.

And no, 'large phone' or 'small tablet' won't do, apparently.

The word has been haphazardly applied to devices in the tech press for the last year or two, particularly in relation to the Galaxy Note and Note II, which have five-inch-plus screens, stylus pens and no obvious pre-existing niche.

But what was once a minority word picked up momentum at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where very large phones became a new industry staple - as noted by a round-up piece by Techcrunch.

And now 'phablet' has been formally introduced into the English lexicon.

Why the sudden watershed?

Because the BBC has used it in a headline on their Technology homepage.

The Beeb used the word on Tuesday, in relation to the newly-announced LG Optimus G Pro, a five-inch, 1080p handset. "LG Phablet Unveiled" screamed the headline - and the world shrugged in sad understanding.

Still, while it appears we're going to have to get used to reading about phablets, there are hints of lingering resistance. After the BBC used the term, reactive was swift and declarative:

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What Are 'Phablets' - And Who Should You Blame For Inventing The Word?

As part of it's recent course evaluation and fresh updates to the 2013 agenda, Search Engine Academy has added Google Plus (Google +) to the three day advanced SEO course.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) January 21, 2013

As part of it's overall search engine results strategy, Google will feature Google Plus entries that have been marked as public.

According to the Search Engine Academy founder, John Alexander, "Google Plus is another SEO strategy to take advantage of. It's easy for businesses and companies to create Google Plus communities to enhance brand awareness, industry credibility and share company news, updates and events."

Search Engine Academy teaches 2 Day, 3 Day and 5 Day hands-on SEO Workshops monthly and by request, trainers also offer the complete Workshops to corporate firms who want their staff trained in-house.

Attendees bring their laptops to a live classroom environment and learn search engine optimization quickly with personalized instruction from their trainer. Each class is conducted with limited enrollment to ensure each and every participant gets all their questions answered and one-on-one time with their instructor.

Search Engine Academy has SEO training locations around the world, including the United States, Canada, Eastern and Central Europe, Australia, Middle East in United Arab Emirates and in Singapore, Malaysia. Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Upon completion of the Workshop, students are then examined and upon achieving a minimum grade of 76% they earn a certification of skills and have the benefit of an ongoing 6 Month personal SEO support and mentoring program at no extra cost.

John Alexander Search Engine Academy (267) 907-5303 Email Information

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Search Engine Academy Enhances the New SEO Training Workshop Agenda to Include New Updates for Google Plus

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