ASTHMA: New Phase III data show tiotropium* Respimat effective across asthma severities

SAN DIEGO - Sunday, March 2nd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

    Significant unmet medical need in patients with asthma who continue to experience symptoms despite current standard treatments
    Improved understanding of tiotropium Respimat® as add-on treatment for patients with different severities of asthma
    Results add to existing evidence of efficacy and safety of tiotropium Respimat® in patients who remained symptomatic despite treatment with at least ICS†/LABA‡

2014 AAAAI Annual Meeting

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For Media outside the U.S., Canada and UK

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced new data from large scale, Phase III studies showing that once-daily tiotropium delivered via the Respimat® inhaler was effective and well tolerated in patients across asthma severities. These data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) 2014 annual meeting in San Diego.

“Even with current treatment options, at least 40 percent of patients with asthma remain symptomatic,1 which may put them at greater risk for exacerbations or asthma worsening" said Professor Pierluigi Paggiaro, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Pisa, and lead author on the GraziaTinA-asthma® study. “It is important to investigate the efficacy and safety of new treatment options across different asthma severities.”

The first results from the Phase III GraziaTinA-asthma® study were announced. The study demonstrated that tiotropium Respimat® improved lung function and was well tolerated in patients with asthma who remain symptomatic while receiving low-dose maintenance ICS treatment.2

Also presented at the meeting was a new subset of data from the Phase III MezzoTinA-asthma® trials. The data showed that in patients with asthma who remained symptomatic while receiving moderate-dose maintenance ICS therapy, the addition of once-daily tiotropium reduced airflow obstruction independent of allergic status, as measured by the TH2 phenotype biomarker.3

Finally, an analysis of a subset from the Phase III PrimoTinA-asthma® trials found the addition of once-daily tiotropium improved lung function responses independently of concomitant use of a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA). This effect was demonstrated in patients with asthma who remained symptomatic despite receiving treatment with at least ICS/LABA.4 Previous results from these pivotal, PrimoTinA-asthma® trials have shown that the addition of tiotropium Respimat® significantly increased time to first severe asthma exacerbation, as well as time to first episode of asthma worsening, compared with at least ICS/LABA therapy alone (current standard therapy).5

NewsHome: An innovative resource for journalists

The Boehringer Ingelheim respiratory www.NewsHome.com is available and is the one-stop-shop for clear, concise and easy to understand information about asthma and other respiratory illnesses for the media.

For more detailed information please follow the links below:

·         About tiotropium Respimat® in asthma factsheet: http://bit.ly/NqNjfv

·         To access the full abstracts please follow the link: http://bit.ly/1jh3AyF

·         To view the ‘notes to editors’ and ‘references’: http://bit.ly/1cUhMfl

* Please note: Tiotropium Respimat® is currently NOT APPROVED for use in asthma, except in Colombia. Tiotropium’s safety and efficacy have not yet been fully established in asthma.

†Inhaled corticosteroid

‡Long-acting beta2-agonists

Contacts

Boehringer Ingelheim

Linda Calandra

Phone: +49 6132 77 3519

Email: linda.calandra@boehringer-ingelheim.com

More information

www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/10189/en

On the Day World Recognizes 350m Rare Disease Sufferers, Quintiles Publishes Insights in Tackling the Challenges

ME NewsWire/ Business Wire

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - Saturday, March 1st 2014

Marking today’s commemoration of ‘World Rare Disease Day’, Quintiles points to the 350 million people around the globe suffering from rare diseases – gathered together they would be the world’s third most populous nation – by highlighting its own contribution to tackling this challenge with a new collection of papers, podcasts and videos covering the latest developments and insights.

A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans at any given time, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.1 In Europe, a disease or disorder is defined as rare when it affects less than 1 in 2000.2 Milena Kanova, M.D., senior director, project management at Quintiles, explains. “Because rare diseases occur in relatively small numbers of people, patient recruitment can pose one of the greatest challenges in these type of clinical trials.”

Quintiles has been involved in more than 80 rare disease clinical trials, involving almost 11,000 patients in 52 countries. Based on that experience, the released today presents insights and perspectives on the design of clinical trials for rare diseases, drug commercialization and patient outcomes.

Supporting the publication of these insights, in a new podcast, Dr. Kanova explains the approach used for rare disease clinical trials and how the model can be adapted to address any rare disease. This approach involves designing trials to include data-driven monitoring, triggered initiation of sites and recruitment planning tailored for the rare disease space.

In addition to clinical development, Quintiles’ global footprint helps improve patient-reported outcomes. By partnering with sponsors and research organizations, Quintiles has been able to develop numerous registries for rare diseases, including hemophilia, cystic fibrosis and rare cancer indications, among others.

“The depth of our market penetration allows us to conduct relatively large long-term studies, including some that aim to capture information on every patient treated with a particular product,” said Kathryn Starzyk, Sc.M., director of epidemiology, Real-World Late Phase Research at Quintiles.

Amongst the new insights, John Doyle, Dr.PH., M.P.H., senior vice president and managing director, Consulting at Quintiles and Jeremy Broadis, vice president, Commercial Solutions at Quintiles, discuss considerations for developing a go-to-market strategy, including access to physicians, market access and medical education versus traditional sales activities.

Additional insight and perspective on rare disease drug development are available on the company’s website.

About Quintiles

Quintiles (NYSE: Q) is the world’s largest provider of biopharmaceutical development and commercial outsourcing services with a network of more than 28,000 employees conducting business in approximately 100 countries. We have helped develop or commercialize all of the top-50 best-selling drugs on the market. Quintiles applies the breadth and depth of our service offerings along with extensive therapeutic, scientific and analytics expertise to help our customers navigate an increasingly complex healthcare environment as they seek to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of better healthcare outcomes. To learn more about Quintiles, please visit www.quintiles.com.

1 http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information

2 http://www.eurodis.org/aboutrarediseases

Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for Quintiles.

Contacts

Quintiles

Mari Mansfield, Media Relations

+ 1.919.998.2639 (office), +1.919.259.3298 (mobile)

mari.mansfield@quintiles.com



Karl Deonanan, Investor Relations

+1.919.998.2789

InvestorRelations@quintiles.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10188/en

Third Point LLC Responds to Sotheby's Conclusion That Daniel S. Loeb Would Be an Appropriate Member of the Company's Board of Directors

NEW YORK - Saturday, March 1st 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Today, Sotheby’s shared its conclusion that Daniel S. Loeb would be an appropriate member of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company also constructively acknowledged Mr. Loeb’s contributions to improving Sotheby’s condition over the past six months and the positive impact his insights have had on increasing value for shareholders.

Third Point shares Sotheby’s belief that having Mr. Loeb on its Board would benefit the Company and its owners. In addition to Mr. Loeb, we have also nominated two other Directors who are qualified experts in areas where the Board currently lacks much-needed depth.

Based on Third Point’s experience, a sole voice representing shareholder’s interests in the Boardroom will not be sufficient to bring about necessary change at Sotheby’s. For that reason, Third Point has consistently adhered to its request for numerous board seats. The Company was always well aware of Third Point’s insistence on multiple seats, and so its offer of a single seat was not, in our opinion, a serious attempt to forge a settlement that would avoid a proxy contest.

As Sotheby’s acknowledged today, incorporating and listening to new ideas from its owners has increased shareholder value over the past six months. With that conclusion in mind, we look forward to continuing to work constructively with Sotheby’s towards a newly reconstituted Board.

About Third Point LLC

Third Point LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in New York, managing $14.0 billion in assets. Founded in 1995, Third Point follows an event-driven approach to investing globally.

Important Information

In connection with its solicitation of proxies for the 2014 annual meeting of Sotheby’s, Third Point and certain of its affiliates intend to file a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Third Point will furnish the definitive proxy statement to Sotheby’s stockholders, together with a WHITE proxy card. THIRD POINT STRONGLY ADVISES ALL SOTHEBY’S STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN ANY SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION. SUCH PROXY STATEMENT, WHEN FILED, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC’S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.

The following persons are anticipated to be, or may be deemed to be, participants in the solicitation of Sotheby’s stockholders: Third Point LLC, Daniel S. Loeb, Third Point Offshore Master Fund L.P., Third Point Ultra Master Fund L.P., Third Point Partners L.P., Third Point Partners Qualified L.P., Third Point Reinsurance Co. Ltd., Lyxor/Third Point Fund Limited, Third Point Advisors LLC, Third Point Advisors II LLC, Harry J. Wilson and Olivier Reza. Information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, to the extent applicable, is available in the solicitation materials filed with the SEC under cover of Schedule 14A on February 27, 2014 and available at no charge on the SEC’s website at http:www.sec.gov.

Contacts

Media

Third Point LLC

Elissa Doyle, 212-715-4907

Managing Director

edoyle@thirdpoint.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10185/en

Beltone Launches Beltone First, a Revolutionary Hearing Aid

New Made for iPhone® Hearing Aid Offers a Whole New Hearing Experience

CHICAGO - Saturday, March 1st 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Beltone First™ hits the market today as a revolutionary hearing aid capable of streaming high-quality stereo sound from an iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch® without the need for an additional pendant-like device. Wearers can also customize their hearing experience through the Beltone HearPlus app. Beltone First advances a number of Beltone® technologies which already lead the hearing care industry. Among them:

    Beltone First applies the latest and most advanced integrated sound processing technology, providing top-rated quality sound.
    Beltone First is a Made for iPhone hearing aid that offers direct streaming of sound from iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, allowing wearers to utilize their hearing aids to talk on the phone and listen to music in high-quality stereo sound without the need for an additional remote control, accessory, or pendant.
    The accompanying Beltone HearPlus app allows users to set preferred volume levels as well as treble/bass settings, and use geo-tagging to assign and adjust to the acoustics of frequently visited places like home, work, favorite restaurants and more. Beltone HearPlus™ also features a ‘Find My Hearing Aid’ function to help users pinpoint their hearing aids if misplaced.
    Beltone First is the smallest wireless Receiver-in-the-Ear hearing aid brought to market by Beltone, yet powerful enough to address 90% of all hearing losses.
    Beltone’s unique 2.4 GHz wireless technology is behind this latest technological breakthrough. Beltone First is the first hearing aid on the market to integrate this processing advance with Bluetooth® Smart technology.

“We are committed to improving people’s lives through technology that makes it easier than ever for Beltone wearers to control their hearing aids," offered Beltone President Todd Murray. “We have developed the world’s best hearing aid by combining Beltone’s life-changing technologies with the compatibility and global prevalence of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.”

About Beltone

Founded in 1940, Chicago-based Beltone is part of the GN Hearing Care Group, utilizing advanced technology to produce hearing aids sold in the United States, Canada and over 50 countries worldwide. In addition to providing outstanding service and support for its U.S. hearing care network operating in over 1,500 offices in North America, Beltone remains the most trusted brand for quality products and care among its patients and adults aged 50 and older. Visit Beltone at www.beltone.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140227005945/en/

Contacts

Beltone

Barbara VanSomeren, 847-832-3300

vansomerenb@beltone.com



John Procter, 703-587-9967

jprocter(at)mcbeestrategic.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10186/en

T-Mobile Netherlands Selects Mavenir for Session Border Controller (SBC)

ME Newswire / Businesswire

For Wireless Access and IP Voice Interconnect

RICHARDSON, Texas - Saturday, March 1st 2014

Mavenir Systems (NYSE: MVNR), today announced that its Session Border Controller (SBC) was selected by T-Mobile Netherlands for IP Voice Interconnect.

Mavenir’s next generation SBC is specifically designed for wireless applications and provides the full suite of standards-defined wireless functions needed to launch next generation solutions and services, which T-Mobile plans to commercially launch starting in 2014.

“As operators launch 4G services, they will need an SBC that is designed to handle the unique challenges of wireless and mobility,” said Pardeep Kohli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mavenir Systems. “Mavenir’s next generation SBC will support T-Mobile’s strategy with quick and easy deployment.”

“We continue to select Mavenir as a key vendor based on their ability to deliver and implement next generation solutions that support our network strategy,” said Wojciech Polak, Director Network Infrastructure, T-Mobile Netherlands. ”This SBC solution will be deployed for both Access and Interconnect SBC use cases.

Mavenir’s SBC is a software-based, carrier grade solution that can be deployed on cloud-based infrastructures using Network Functions Virtualization (NFV). Its architecture provides the flexibility needed to adapt to the varied traffic models that these IP-based services impose on mobile operator networks.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical information contain forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions of future events which may not prove to be accurate. These factors are discussed in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections and elsewhere in the Company's registration statement.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by the Company herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these events or how they may affect it. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws.

About Mavenir™:

Mavenir is a leading provider of software-based communications solutions that enable mobile service providers to deliver high-quality internet protocol (IP)-based voice, video, rich communication and enhanced messaging services to their subscribers globally. Mavenir’s mOne® software platform has enabled leading mobile service providers to introduce the industry’s first live network deployment of Voice-Over-LTE (VoLTE) and the industry’s first live deployment of next-generation Rich Communication Services 5.0 (RCS). Our solutions deliver next-generation services such as RCS, VoLTE and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi) over existing 2G and 3G networks and next-generation 4G LTE networks.

www.mavenir.com

© 2014 Mavenir Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mavenir Systems®, mOne®, AirMessenger®, Mavenir™, mStore™ and mCloud™, Transforming Mobile Networks™, are trademarks of Mavenir Systems, Inc.

Contacts

Mavenir Systems

Maryvonne Tubb, 469-916-4393

PR@mavenir.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/10178/en

Trending Near You: The ‘Megatrends’ That Are Transforming Global Business

Ground-breaking book calls for a new style of leadership and new form of organizational structure

ME NewsWire/ Business Wire

PHILADELPHIA. - Wednesday, February 26th 2014

A new book published this month reveals the six ‘megatrends’ that are fundamentally transforming the global business environment.

The book illustrates the dramatic impact these megatrends are having on companies and on their markets, cultures, systems, and processes. It sets out a compelling vision of how firms will need to be structured and led in the future.

Leadership 2030: The Six Megatrends You Need To Understand To Lead Your Company Into The Future is written by Hay Group consultants Georg Vielmetter and Yvonne Sell, and published by Amacon Books. It is the first business book to analyze the six megatrends – in isolation and in combination – and explore their implications for organizations and leaders.

The megatrends

Based on unique foresight analysis, Leadership 2030 pinpoints the following megatrends that businesses and their leaders will need to address in the coming decades:

    Globalization 2.0: Asia dominates the global economy, and a new middle class emerges.
    Environmental crisis: Sustainability moves from CSR initiative to business-critical imperative.
    Individualism and value pluralism: Freedom of choice erodes loyalty and overhauls employee motivation.
    Digitization: Work goes mobile, and the boundaries blur between private and professional life.
    Demographic change: Aging populations intensify the talent war.
    Technological convergence: Powerful new technologies combine to transform many aspects of everyday life.

Georg Vielmetter, European head of leadership and talent at Hay Group, comments: “These are changing times. We wanted to get a clear grasp of exactly what is changing, what the future will look like, and how business leaders need to adapt to cope.”

The consequences

The authors also identify five combined consequences of the megatrends (‘reinforcers’) for businesses to tackle:

    Stakeholder proliferation: A multiplication of the vested interests leaders need to consider.
    A power shift: Away from leaders and toward stakeholders.
    New working practices: The emergence of a new ‘social practice’ of work.
    Cost explosion: Due to the scarcity of talent and natural resources and use of new technologies.
    Ethicization of business: A demand for the highest ethical standards from firms and their leaders.

Tomorrow’s leaders

Leadership 2030 highlights how the business leaders of tomorrow will need to be very different to those of today. Conventional styles of leadership will prove inadequate in a world shaped by the megatrends.

The vast complexities of the global business landscape will demand what the authors call ‘altrocentric’ leaders: individuals whose primary focus is on others, not themselves, and who see themselves as a part of the greater whole.

The book sets out a model for the skills and competencies of the altrocentric leader. Essential attributes include empathy, maturity, integrity, openness and self-awareness; impeccable ethical standards; complex strategic thinking; and the ability to create meaning for employees.

Georg Vielmetter comments: “Traditional, command-and-control leadership will fall short in the face of the megatrends. The future will demand a new style of leader: one who instinctively understands the subtleties of leadership, and knows that he or she cannot navigate the complexities of the business environment alone.”

Bounded autonomy

Altrocentric leaders will also realize that new kinds of organizational structure will be needed to allow their firms to adapt as the landscape evolves.

Increased complexity will demand tighter management and co-ordination, yet employees will want greater flexibility and control over their work and lifestyle. Leadership 2030 therefore calls for leaders to create ‘bounded autonomy’ – autonomy defined by a clear direction and defined boundaries – to empower and guide employees in an individualized and digital world.

Yvonne Sell comments: “Organizations typically struggle to provide autonomy and to create boundaries. Yet bounded autonomy will be the greatest weapon in the war for talent, and a vital enabler of innovation in a megatrend-driven environment.”

Further information

To purchase a copy of Leadership 2030, or for more information on the book, the megatrends and the implications for organizations and their leaders, please visit Hay Group’s microsite at: www.haygroup.com/leadership2030.

To arrange an interview with the authors, please contact Mitch Kent at mitch.kent@haygroup.com or on +1 (215) 861 2315. Alternatively, the authors may be contacted directly at georg.vielmetter@haygroup.com / yvonne.sell@haygroup.com.

About the authors

Georg Vielmetter heads Hay Group’s European leadership and talent practice, and is regional director for the consulting practices across Europe. He has a master’s degree in sociology, economics, and psychology, and a Ph.D. in philosophy and social theory. He has published works on leadership, culture, and philosophy, and is a regular keynote speaker at management conferences in Europe. You can follow him on Twitter @GVielmetter and on LinkedIn: http://de.linkedin.com/in/georgvielmetter

Yvonne Sell is head of Hay Group’s UK & Ireland leadership and talent practice, and a member of the core European leadership and talent team. She has a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology, retains a keen interest in practical leadership research, and has published numerous articles on leadership. She is a regular speaker at conferences in the UK and Europe. Connect with her on LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/pub/yvonne-sell/12/ba9/6b9

About the megatrend research

Hay Group conducted extensive foresight research and analysis in partnership with Z_Punkt. The unique program initially examined around 20 megatrends, identifying those with the greatest impact on the business environment, organizations and leaders. The authors then analyzed Hay Group data on thousands of global employees’ views about their companies’ leadership practices, and conducted hundreds of conversations with business leaders and academics about the megatrends. They also examined the impact of the six megatrends in combination, to fully understand the consequences for business. Based on this exhaustive research, the authors were able to identify what leaders need to do for their organizations to survive and thrive in the future.

About Hay Group

Hay Group is a global management consulting firm that works with leaders to transform strategy into reality. We develop talent, organize people to be more effective and motivate them to perform at their best. Our focus is on making change happen and helping people and organizations realize their potential.

We have over 3000 employees working in 87 offices in 49 countries. Our insight is supported by robust data from over 125 countries. Our clients are from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, across every major industry, and represent diverse business challenges. For almost 70 years, we have been renowned for the quality of our research and the intellectual rigor of our work. We transform research into actionable insights. We give our clients breakthrough perspectives on their organization, and we do it in the most efficient way to achieve the desired results. For more information please contact your local office through www.haygroup.com. Twitter: @haygroup LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-group

Contacts

Hay Group

Mitch Kent, +1-215-861-2315

www.haygroup.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10146/en

Covidien Completes Acquisition of Given Imaging

DUBLIN, Ireland - Thursday, February 27th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Covidien plc (NYSE: COV) today announced that it has closed its acquisition of Given Imaging Ltd., providing the company additional scale and scope to serve a significant medical specialty, the multibillion dollar global gastrointestinal (GI) market.

Under terms of the merger agreement, Covidien has acquired all outstanding Given shares for $30 per share or an aggregate consideration of approximately $860 million, net of cash and short-term investments acquired.

“Acquiring Given Imaging significantly expands Covidien’s GI Solutions business and supports the company’s strategy to comprehensively address key global specialties and procedures,” said Bryan Hanson, group president, Medical Devices & U.S., Covidien. “We are committed to providing clinicians with more accurate and efficient diagnostic technologies to help achieve better outcomes for patients.”

With this acquisition, Covidien now has one of the broadest portfolios for visualizing, monitoring and detecting abnormalities in the digestive system. A key technology in the Given portfolio is the worldwide market leading product PillCam®, a minimally-invasive, swallowed optical endoscopy technology for the small bowel, esophagus and colon that does not require sedation of the patient.

Financial Highlights

Covidien will report the Given Imaging business within the Advanced Surgical revenue reporting line. Given Imaging is expected to add between $40 and $50 million per quarter in incremental revenue.

On a reported U.S. GAAP basis, the transaction is expected to be dilutive to earnings per share (EPS) in fiscal 2014. On an adjusted basis, excluding one-time items and transaction costs, management expects the transaction to be neutral to EPS in fiscal 2014. The transaction is expected to be accretive to EPS both on a U.S. GAAP and on an adjusted basis in fiscal 2015 and beyond.

While the company has not completed its initial purchase price allocation and the final amount could differ significantly, it estimates incremental intangible asset amortization from the transaction to be approximately $35 to $45 million on an annual basis.

From a “cash earnings” standpoint, which excludes the impact of amortization, the transaction is expected to be accretive immediately.

Covidien management is not changing any of its guidance as a result of this transaction.

About Covidien

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien develops, manufactures and sells a diverse range of industry-leading medical device and supply products. With 2013 revenue of $10.2 billion, Covidien has more than 38,000 employees worldwide in more than 70 countries, and its products are sold in over 150 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this communication that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our management’s current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results or company actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the ability to successfully integrate Given’s operations with Covidien’s and the time and resources required to do so; our ability to effectively introduce and market new products, keep pace with advances in technology and compete effectively; implementation of healthcare reform in the United States and globally; cost-containment efforts of customers, purchasing groups, third-party payors and governmental organizations; rising commodity costs; risk of cyber-attacks; intellectual property rights disputes; complex and costly regulation, including healthcare fraud and abuse regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; recalls or safety alerts and negative publicity relating to Covidien or its products; product liability losses and other litigation liability; manufacturing or supply chain problems or disruptions; divestitures of some of our businesses or product lines; our ability to execute strategic acquisitions of, investments in or alliances with other companies and businesses; risks associated with doing business outside of the United States; foreign currency exchange rates; environmental liabilities; and tax legislation and potential tax liabilities. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2013, and in subsequent filings with the SEC. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

Contacts

Covidien plc

Peter Lucht, 508-452-4168

Vice President, External Communications

peter.lucht@covidien.com



Coleman Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343

Vice President, Investor Relations

cole.lannum@covidien.com



Marguerite Copel, 203-821-4720

Vice President, Communications

marguerite.copel@covidien.com



Todd Carpenter, 508-452-4363

Senior Director, Investor Relations

todd.carpenter@covidien.com



Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10161/en