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BEIJING The anguished hours had turned into a day and a half. Fed up with awaiting word on the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, relatives of passengers in Beijing lashed out at the carrier with a handwritten ultimatum and an impromptu news conference.

From a room set aside at a hotel near the Beijing airport, a man with a black shirt emerged with a statement signed by about 100 of the relatives, saying that unless the carrier could give them some clarity, they would take their complaints to the Malaysian Embassy.

"We don't believe Malaysia Airlines anymore. Sorry everyone, we just don't believe them anymore," the man, who refused to give his name, told a crowd of reporters Sunday.

By this time, the airline already had dispatched dozens of caregivers to Beijing and assigned one to each family, provided accommodation, food, transport and financial assistance. It said it was providing regular updates despite a lack of information about the plane, which disappeared from radar while heading from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

But the initial disorder of Malaysia Airlines' response Saturday, and its lack of official contact with relatives in the early going set the tone for the ensuing hours of waiting.

"One of the most important things to remember here," said Frank Taylor, director of an aviation safety center at Cranfield University in Britain, "is that it's much easier to stand down staff after an initial over-reaction than to play catch-up after an initial under-reaction."

The relatives had expected the plane's arrival at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. About four hours later, a handwritten note was posted on a white board in the arrival hall advising relatives to use a shuttle service to go to the Lido Hotel to await information. "It can't be good," said one weeping woman aboard the first bus.

But when the family members got there, they wandered around lost and distressed before hotel staff apparently unprepared escorted them into a private area. It was several more hours before an airline spokesman made a brief statement to reporters, providing little information.

Faced with an emergency, the airline said it was doing all it can. The uncertainty over the plane's whereabouts was frustrating relatives, but also hindering the carrier's ability to respond: It's difficult to deliver a clear message with so much still unclear.

"We're literally trying to find out what happened and until you actually find the aircraft you have no way of knowing what actually went on there," the airline's commercial director Hugh Dunleavy told The Associated Press on Sunday. "Our main focus has been to come here, meet the families, give them as much information as we can but without raising false hopes."

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Malaysia Airlines' lack of early word on missing plane angers many Beijing relatives

DGAP-News: Ekotechnika GmbH / Key word(s): Bond Ekotechnika GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to 'watch'

10.03.2014 / 12:00

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Ekotechnika GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to "watch"

Walldorf, 10 March 2014 - In view of the ongoing crisis in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula, Creditreform Rating AG has adjusted the rating of Ekotechnika GmbH from B (outlook: stable) to B (outlook: watch). Such adjustments were made for several companies which, like Ekotechnika, are active in Russia or Ukraine and which may be affected by potential sanctions or exchange rate affects resulting from the crisis.

From Ekotechnika's point of view, the current political crisis in Crimea has so far not had any material impact on sales of international agricultural machinery. As explained in the press release dated 6 March 2014 - which was published on the occasion of Creditreform's regular adjustment of Ekotechnika's rating -, a depreciation of the rouble has both positive and negative impacts on the figures of Ekotechnika. The risk of trade barriers for foreign agricultural equipment is considered to be low at present. As a precautionary measure, however, the company has discussed measures with all major suppliers to maintain adequate inventories on the one hand and to be prepared for a possible drop in demand on the other hand. Above and beyond this, the current crisis has led to the Russian government attaching even greater importance to a functioning agricultural sector. At the end of 2013, German national Stefan Drr, majority shareholder of Ekotechnika, was additionally granted Russian nationality by the President in recognition of his achievements for Russia's agricultural industry. He maintains a regular exchange with political and economic decision-makers in order to secure positive conditions for the company's business activities.

About Ekotechnika

Walldorf-based Ekotechnika GmbH is the German holding company of the Ekoniva-Technika Group, the largest distributor of agriculture equipment in Russia. The company's single most important supplier is John Deere & Co., the world's leading manufacturer in this field. In addition, Ekotechnika sells equipment from another 11 market-leading manufacturers. Its main business is in selling new equipment such as tractors but also milking equipment and precision farming technology. In addition, the company sells spare parts and provides service and maintenance. Ekotechnika's founder and main shareholder is Stefan Drr, who has been active in the Russian farming sector since the late eighties and has been instrumental in its modernisation over the past two decades. In 2011 the equipment business was separated from the farming business, which now operates independently under the name Ekosem-Agrar. Operating 12 locations in attractive Russian farming regions, Ekotechnika today employs 625 people and generates sales of EUR 212 million.

Contact

Ekotechnika GmbH // Johann-Jakob-Astor-Str. 49 // 69190 Walldorf // P: +49 (0) 6227 3 58 59 60 // E: presse@ekotechnika.de // http://www.ekotechnika.de

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PRESS RELEASE: Ekotechnika GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to 'watch'

PRESS RELEASE: Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

DGAP-News: Epigenomics AG / Key word(s): Regulatory Approval Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

10.03.2014 / 10:00

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Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

Berlin (Germany), Germantown, MD (U.S.A.) and Buenos Aires (Argentina) March 10, 2014 - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX, OTC: EPGNY), the German-American cancer molecular diagnostics company, and VSA ALTA COMPLEJIDAD S.A. (VSA), a leading Argentinean pharmaceutical and blood diagnostics company announced today that VSA has received approval to market the Epigenomics Epi proColon(R) kit for the blood-based detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Argentina.

Since 2013, Epigenomics and VSA worked together, performing extensive pre-approval work to meet the requirements of ANMAT, the diagnostic testing regulatory control body of Argentina. VSA has already secured relationships with leading diagnostic reference laboratories in the country in order to make the assay available in Argentina starting during the "Colon Cancer Awareness Month" in March. The intention of this internationally implemented campaign is to increase the awareness of colorectal cancer risks and to convince people to prevent the disease by participating in CRC screening programs. The Epi proColon(R) blood test will allow patients greater access to CRC screening in the country.

Noel Doheny, CEO of Epigenomics' US subsidiary, commented: "We are extremely pleased about the regulatory approval to market Epi proColon(R) in Argentina. This makes Argentina the first country outside Europe to have granted approval for our test. Given VSA's significant diagnostic testing skill set, combined with a keen focus on the colorectal cancer space, we believe VSA is an ideal partner for Epigenomics and we thank VSA for their significant efforts to achieve this regulatory milestone."

"The Epigenomics assay enables VSA to extend its market leading efforts to improve access to colorectal cancer screening and reduce the colorectal cancer burden in Argentina," said Luis Israel, CEO of VSA, "Due to late detection, mortality rates from colorectal cancer are still among the highest for males and females in our country, so we have made the launch and roll-out of the blood based assay a priority."

About Epigenomics

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PRESS RELEASE: Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

DGAP-News: Ekosem-Agrar GmbH / Key word(s): Bond Ekosem-Agrar GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to 'watch'

10.03.2014 / 12:30

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Ekosem-Agrar GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to "watch"

Walldorf, 10 March 2014 - Due to the ongoing crisis in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula, Creditreform Rating AG has adjusted the rating of Ekosem-Agrar GmbH, the German holding company of Russian milk producer Ekoniva Group, from BB (outlook: stable) to BB (outlook: watch). Such adjustments were made for several companies which, like Ekosem-Agrar, are active in Russia or Ukraine and which may be affected by potential sanctions or exchange rate effects resulting from the crisis.

From Ekosem-Agrar's point of view, the current political crisis in Crimea has so far not had any negative impact on agricultural and milk production - right on the contrary. Because of the current crisis, an agreement under preparation with New Zealand has been frozen, which would have facilitated more imports of milk or milk production to the Russian Federation. In addition, the planned lifting of import restrictions for US products has been suspended.

The Group produces in Russia for domestic consumption and is therefore not dependent on imports or exports of its products. Accordingly, potential trading restrictions would have no direct consequences.

At the bottom line, the depreciation of the rouble, which started almost one year ago, has had clearly positive effects on the Group's business trend. Domestic production currently covers only about 60% of Russia's demand for raw milk. The remaining 40% needs to be imported. The rouble sales price is therefore regularly derived from the world market price, which is denominated in euros and US dollars. These higher rouble prices can be passed on to the dairies. After the latest depreciation of the rouble, for instance, the company agreed a 15% price increase (in roubles) to the equivalent of 47 euro cents with one of its main customers. This means that the Group today generates much higher revenues in euros than one year ago.

Ekoniva currently produces over 400 tons of milk per day. The average sales price today stands above 23 roubles, which represents an increase of 15% since the beginning of the year - and rising. The prices of agricultural products and meat are picking up as well. By contrast, personnel expenses and rouble-denominated liabilities - which represent most of the Group's debt capital - stay at the low rouble level. While the weak rouble has negative effects on euro-denominated liabilities, these are more than offset by the positive effects described above, all the more so if one considers that corresponding rouble-denominated liabilities exist whose repayment is facilitated because of these effects.

Basically, the current crisis will lead to the Russian government attaching even greater importance to a strong agricultural industry and promoting investments in the sector. At the end of 2013, German national Stefan Drr, majority shareholder of Ekosem-Agrar, was additionally granted Russian nationality by the President in recognition of his achievements for Russia's agricultural industry. He maintains a regular exchange with political and economic decision-makers in order to secure positive conditions for the company's business activities.

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PRESS RELEASE: Ekosem-Agrar GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to 'watch'

PRESS RELEASE: YOUNIQ AG publishes preliminary consolidated net result for financial year 2013

DGAP-News: YOUNIQ AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Miscellaneous YOUNIQ AG publishes preliminary consolidated net result for financial year 2013

10.03.2014 / 08:55

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- Consolidated net loss of EUR -54.1 million (2012: EUR -7.1 million) - Properties from "Renting and Trading Real Estate" segment largely sold, carrying amount of around EUR 6.9 million as of December 31, 2013 - All current projects in "YOUNIQ - Student Housing" almost fully completed and transferred to rental - Operating overhead costs cut by more than EUR 2.0 million p.a. to date

Frankfurt/Main, March 10, 2014 - YOUNIQ AG, a real estate company specialising in Student Housing, reports a EUR 23.0 million consolidated net loss (IFRS) in the fourth quarter of 2013 on the basis of preliminary and unaudited results. In particular, a reappraisal of tax loss carryforwards and a resultant write-down of deferred tax assets contributed to this loss. In a 2013 financial year characterised by operating challenges, the full-year net loss (IFRS) amounted to EUR -54.1 million on the basis of preliminary and unaudited figures (2012: EUR -7.1 million). The losses - in addition to the mentioned write-down - were incurred in both the "YOUNIQ - Student Housing" segment and the segments that are to be discontinued. In the continuing operations, retroactive construction cost adjustments placed a particular burden on the result. In the operations to be discontinued, especially expenses and charges as part of the disposal of portfolio properties, and provisions for warranties, contributed negatively to the result.

The company succeeded in realising a considerable reduction in the real estate portfolio in its "Renting and Trading Real Estate" segment in 2013. The carrying amount of the remaining properties amounted to around EUR 6.9 million as of December 31, 2013 (December 31, 2012: EUR 33.3 million). Of these properties, real estate disposals with a carrying amount of around EUR 3.5 million have already been officially recorded by notaries. The related transfer of benefits and encumbrances will occur prospectively during the first and second quarters of the 2014 financial year. The carrying amount of the properties that are still to be sold currently stands at around EUR 3.4 million as a consequence. In addition, all properties in the construction stage in the "YOUNIQ - Student Housing" segment are almost fully completed by the start of 2014, have transferred to the rental stage, and some have been sold. The Management Board has also reduced future operating overhead costs by more than EUR 2.0 million per year through savings in various business areas, although these will not impact results until during the course of the current 2014 financial year, and have also burdened the 2013 consolidated net result through one-off expenses.

All figures quoted for the 2013 financial year are preliminary. The final and audited results for the 2013 financial year will be published with the annual report on March 28, 2014.

Company profile

YOUNIQ AG

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PRESS RELEASE: YOUNIQ AG publishes preliminary consolidated net result for financial year 2013