Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/490723
Events 29 maltatoday, Sunday, 5 april 2015 The North American J.D. Power 2015 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) has ranked the Kia Sportage as the leader in the 'Small SUV' cat- egory, marking the first-ever VDS award in Kia's history. The industry-wide study examines problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year old vehicles (2012 model year). Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems expe- rienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting a higher long- term quality lev- el. The Sportage ranked first in a field of seven contenders. This latest rec- ognition for the globally-sold Kia Sportage follows the model's two consecutive J.D. Power Initial Qual- ity Survey (IQS) awards in 2013 and 2014. John Crowe, Vice President, Serv- ice & Aftersale Operations, Kia Mo- tors America, said: "We believe the results of the J.D. Power Vehicle De- pendability Study demonstrate Kia's ongoing commitment to quality and obsession with craftsmanship in building our world-class products. "The Sportage is a clear example of how far the entire Kia model line- up has progressed, and this kind of quality is tangible evidence of our long-term strategy to enhance the Kia ownership experience." The annual J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study measures the long-term quality of vehicles, in- cluding new technologies and fea- tures currently available to buyers. In 2015, it included 32 nameplates and 228 models, covering 177 spe- cific problem symptoms grouped into eight major vehicle categories. The Kia Sportage is the brand's best-selling model in Europe, with 97,489 units sold across the conti- nent in 2014. Every Sportage in Eu- rope is sold with Kia's unique 7-year warranty. Cars International, of Mdina Road, Qormi, are the local agents for Kia in Malta. For more information or to book a Sportage test-drive, send an email to kiasales@cil.com.mt, call on 2269 2120 or visit the website www.kia.com/mt or Facebook page Kia Motors Malta. Months prior to the COP 21 (Con- ference of Parties to the Kyoto Pro- tocol on the climate) in Paris, the 15th meeting of the PEUGEOT- ONF Forestry Carbon Sink Sci- entific and Technical Committee was held at the French Embassy in Brasilia, between 23 and 25 March 2015. After 6 years as president of the Scientific and Technical Commit- tee, Professor Marcel Bursztyn, Director of the Sustainable Devel- opment Centre at the federal Uni- versity of Brasilia, wanted to stand down. The PEUGEOT-ONF steer- ing committee thanks Professor Bursztyn for the work he has done during this period, work that has placed forestry carbon sink at the heart of the best international sci- entific practices. The committee has elected a new president to take his place, Doctor João Ferraz, coordinator of the en- vironmental dynamics department at the National Institute of Amazo- nian Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia or IN- PA), the leading institution for re- search into the Amazonian basin. Doctor Ferraz, a specialist in tropi- cal forestry, has been a member of the committee since its foundation during 2000. Furthermore, the committee has co-opted two new members in the persons of Doctor Andrea Aguilar Azevedo, Director of Public Policy at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia or IPAM), and Doctor Carlos Fer- reira de Abreu Castro, a sustain- able development unit coordinator at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Brazil, demonstrating on ongoing interest by the Brazilian scientific commu- nity in a one of its kind project. The work done by the Scientific and Technical Committee has been aimed mainly at the assess- ment of two plans for sustainable management prepared by ONF Brazil, marking out 5,000 hectares of tropical rainforest on one hand, and 1,800 hectares of very highly biologically diverse forest, cat- egorised since 2009 as a private re- serve of national heritage (Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural or RPPN) on the other hand. The land use plan covering an area of 5,000 hectares foresees the experimental introduction of low impact use, aimed at feeding the technical and financial models for the sustainable management of these rich and complex ecosys- tems. The first step in the imple- mentation of this land use plan will consist of the introduction during the second half of 2015, of a system of permanent plots which will form part of the Brazilian national and Amazonian international networks for monitoring forest dynamics. Giving 1,800 hectares of very high biological value land the pro- tection of a natural reserve aims to provide the scientific community with a research area located within one of the most important areas of biodiversity on Earth. The man- agement plan defined includes an assessment of the area and defines strict conditions for the develop- ment of scientific activity. These two plans are currently awaiting validation by the Ministry of the Environment of the state of Mato Grosso. As of today Guerrieri Rizzardi has of- ficially become a member of the As- sociation of Amarone Families. The Association founded in 2009 brings together the most important compa- nies in Valpolicella, companies united in their care of production and preser- vation of historical heritage and com- mitment to the international promo- tion of Amarone, the most prestigious of Veronese red wines. Guerrieri Rizzardi becomes the youngest associate of the Amarone Families, although its wine history is among the most ancient in the Valpo- licella region with the Counts Rizzardi acquiring Pojega estate in Negrar as early as 1649. The marriage, in 1913, of Carlo Rizzardi to Giuseppina Guerri- eri - whose Bardolino estate dated back to the XV century – brought about the Guerrieri Rizzardi of today, merging the two historic estates. The first label under the name Guerrieri Rizzardi ap- peared in 1914. Since then, the Rizzardi family have developed the company through con- tinuous improvements in the vine- yard and in the cellar, to become a producer of complex wines, wines di- rectly linked to the land of origin. The continued aim is to improve the work done in the vineyards and the cellar, allowing ever greater expression of the vineyards in the wines. The company at the same time keeps a clear eye on the future with the goal of protecting and furthering the position of Amar- one in the world of wine - a goal shared with the other associates of the Amar- one Families. The entrance of Guerrieri Rizzardi to the association further consolidates this select group of companies dedicat- ed to the enhancement of Amarone, a symbol of Veronese excellence. Guerrieri Rizzardi wines are im- ported, marketed and distributed by Farsons Beverage Imports Company (FBIC) Limited, a member of the Far- sons Group. IHI has announced an EBITDA profit in 2014 of €35 million, includ- ing its 50% share in the Corinthia Hotel in London. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization in 2014 are the balance of record per- formances at each of the company's hotels in Malta, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon and London on the one hand, dampened on the other hand by sig- nificant external challenges to the Corinthia Hotels in Tripoli and St Petersburg. EBITDA in the Corinthia Hotels in Prague, Budapest and Lisbon, as well as IHI's Corinthia and Marina Hotels in St Julian's Malta, increased 41% year on year over 2013, a credit- able performance reflecting Corin- thia's increasing competitiveness in the global hotel markets. The Cor- inthia in London, of which IHI owns 50 per cent, maintained its steady consolidation among the city's fore- most luxury operations. On the other hand, the sustained uncertainties in Tripoli throughout 2014, meant that net income from this investment was mostly limited to the €6 million annual rents de- rived from the continued occupa- tion of the property's commercial office wing by blue chip interna- tional oil firms. Likewise, in St Petersburg, the cumulative effect of international sanctions on the Russian Federation and the devaluation of the Rouble impacted the profits of that hotel when measured in Euro. Major in- ternational events and meetings scheduled for the city throughout the year were cancelled or scaled down, whilst corporate travel to the city was down. Management shifted the hotel's focus onto the important domestic Russian market, which now accounts for more than half of the hotel's customers. "2014 was a mixed year for us. We exceeded all expectations in almost all of our hotels thanks to our increasing capabilities as hotel operators and a globally recognized Corinthia Brand. "We also maintained a watchful eye on external circumstances in Tripoli and Russia where we took a series of tough measures to mitigate the downturn in business in these operations. The net result is a posi- tive and resilient performance when one considers all factors" said Alfred Pisani, chairman of IHI. As every year, the directors have taken a view on the current value of each of the Company's hotels and commercial properties. The hotels in Malta, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon and London were valued by an in- creased €45 million by independent parties, a result of higher earnings and brighter prospects. At the same time, the Directors, on the basis of expert advice, have agreed to reduce the value in the books of the Com- pany of the hotels and commercial centers in Tripoli and St Petersburg by €70 million. The combined value of the company's assets remains just over €1 billion. In 2014, the company's total in- debtedness and liabilities further decreased by €49 million. Kia Sportage ranks highest among small SUVs in 2015 15th meeting of the Scientific & Technical Committee of the PEUGEOT- ONF Forestry Carbon Sink at the French Embassy in Brasilia IHI EBITDA earnings at €35 million Guerrieri Rizzardi joins the Amarone Families