MEDIA MARKET

EUROPE: DECEMBER 2007 - Consolidation forecast in the German newspaper industry.

Germany's newspaper industry is highly fragmented and the market has attracted overseas investors as local publishers are restricted in their expansion plans by still extant legislation preventing media concentration which were passed in the wake of World War 2. Many smaller family-owned newspaper groups are forecast to come on to the market as they lack successors and funds for expansion into the digital arena. It has been forecast that 80 to 100 regional publishers will have disappeared by 2025.

The Suddeutsche Zeitung, Germany's bestselling broadsheet is currently being auctioned and has attracted interest from UK and US private equity companies and four privately-held German newspaper groups, SWMH, Holtzbrinck, DuMont and WAZ Group

Employees of Berliner Verlag, publishers of, amongs others, Berliner Zeitung and Hamburger Morgenpost, are in dispute with new owner Mecom. Mecom was founded in 2005 by David Montgomery, formerly Chief Executive of the UK's Mirror Group and is an acquisitive pan-European newspaper group.

Their issues include Mecom's plans to combine online and print activities, outsourcing of sub-editing responsibilities and its reputation for fierce cost-cutting.

Germany's largest newspaper publisher, Axel Springer, recently announced an 8.9% increase in revenues for the first 9 months of 2007; earnings for the period (EBITA) were equivalent to the same period in 2006 despite higher start-up costs.

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Germany Newspapers 2007
Snapdata's Snapshots Germany Newspapers 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the German newspaper market, and covers national, regional and other newspapers. Free newspapers are not included. Market volume is based on average daily circulation. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Germany Newspapers 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Media industry coverage.

BABY FOOD MARKET

EUROPE: DECEMBER 2007 - Organic baby foods represent over 50% of the UK market.

In the UK sales of organic produce represent over 50% of the total baby food market.

The Organic Trade Group was established by the Soil Association, the main UK accreditation body for organic food, in 2007 to represent the needs and views of organic businesses in the UK.

The Chair, Elizabeth Vann, recently expressed its disappointment to the Food Standards Agency that they had not been consulted over its response to University of Southampton research into food additives and hyperactive behaviour in children.

The thrust of their argument is that the FSA should be more prescriptive and rely less on the discretion of parents who may be less aware and less informed of the dangers.

Consolidation in the European sector continues. The EU Competition Commission approved the acquisition by Danone of Numico, the manufacturer of the Cow & Gate and Olvarit brands, with the proviso that Danone divests businesses in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The deal has been declared unconditional and Numico shares will be delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on 28 December 2007. Nestlé completed the acquisition of Gerber in September 2007.

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UK Baby Food 2007
Snapdata's Snapshots UK Baby Food 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the UK baby food market, and covers wet baby food, dry baby food and others. Market value is based on retail sales. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots UK Baby Food 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Food industry coverage.

FOOD & DRINKS MARKET

AMERICAS: DECEMBER 2007 - US coffee consumption peaked in 1946.

The Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture has examined its coffee availability data, a proxy for consumption, and calculated that US per capita coffee consumption peaked in the mid-1940s. In 1946 per capita availability measured 46.4 gallons compared to 24.2 gallons in 2005. This is despite the current popularity of Starbucks and its peers.

Instant coffee, which firstappeared in 1938, was issued to troops during the 2nd World War with a consequential impact on future demand.

The subsequent decline in coffee consumption is contemporaneous with the rise in availability and popularity of carbonated soft drinks which overtook coffee in popularity in the mid-1970s.

The nadir in coffee availability was 1995 and the subsequent rise is attributed to the coffee shop phenomenon which has counterbalanced declining sales in supermarkets.

However the age demographic of coffee consumption is skewed. According to National Coffee Association data coffee is consumed by only 37% of Americans between the ages of 18 to 24 whereas 60% of 40 to 59 year olds and 74% of those over 60.

In October 2007 it was reported, although not confirmed, that Procter & Gamble had hired Blackstone to explore the sale of its Folger and Millsone coffee businesses.

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US Coffee 2007
Snapdata's Snapshots US Coffee 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the US coffee market, and covers instant and fresh coffee. Market value is based on sales through mass market channels. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots US Coffee 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Non-Alcoholic Drinks industry coverage.

Procter & Gamble 2007
Snapdata's The Procter & Gamble Company Company Snippet 2007 report gives an instant overview of Procter & Gamble’s company background and history. The report provides a time-saving valuable overview of the company, history, M&A activity, management, products and brands. The Procter & Gamble Company Snippet 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Company Snippets Series.

Hungary Life Insurance Market 2008

Snapshots Hungary Life Insurance 2008

Snapdata's Snapshots Hungary Life Insurance 2008 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Hungarian life insurance market, and covers insurance allied with investments, endowment, death and critical illness and other insurance. Market value is based on gross premium income. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Hungary Life Insurance 2008 forms part of Snapdata's Financial Services industry coverage....more

HOME & LEISURE MARKET

ASIA: New South Wales reviews the legal status of online betting.

The New South Wales Gaming and Racing Minister has announced that he is reviewing the status of online betting in the state to recoup the tax revenue currently being lost to the Northern Territory where the industry is legal.

In a separate development, Tabcorp, the owners of the Star City casino in Sydney has signed a 12 year deal with the New South Wales government which guarantees that there will be no new casinos in the state for the duration of the agreement.

In return Tabcorp will pay the government an up-front fee of A$100m. The New South Wales Treasurer stated that changes to the tax structure, incorporated in the deal, will increase casino tax revenues by 32% by 2012-2013.

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Australia Casinos 2007

Snapdata's Snapshots Australia Casinos 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Australian casino market, and covers expenditure on casino games. Market value is based on the total amount of money exchanged for gaming chips in casinos. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Australia Casinos 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Home & Leisure industry coverage.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET

EUROPE: Despite reporting an overall Q3 revenue increase, fixed line performs badly.

France Telecom announced Q3 results on 25 October 2007. Revenues rose 3.5% year on year on a comparable basis.

The Home Communication Services division which incorporates both fixed line telephony and ADSL reported a rise of only 0.2% in third quarter revenues.

These aggregated figures disguise a 16.4% fall in quarterly revenues from traditional phone services. France Telecom reported that this was due to a decrease in call volumes. Telephone line rental revenues decreased 3.2% despite an increase in line rental prices in July 2007.

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Snapdata's Snapshots France Fixed Telephone Services 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the French fixed telephone services market, and covers analog, IP services, cable and digital lines telephone services. Market volume is based on the number of lines. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots France Fixed Telephone Services 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Telecommunications industry coverage.

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Snapdata's Snapshots Lithuania Fixed Telephone Services 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Lithuanian fixed telephone services market, and covers residential and business fixed line telephone services. Market value is based on revenue generated. Market volume is based on the number of lines. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Lithuania Fixed Telephone Services 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Telecommunications industry coverage.

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Snapdata's Snapshots Malaysia Fixed Telephone Services 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Malaysian fixed telephone services market, and covers residential and business services. Market volume is based on number of subscribers. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Malaysia Fixed Telephone Services 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Telecommunications industry coverage.

FOOD MARKET

EUROPE: Barry Callebaut increases chocolate production capacity in Russia.

Barry Callebaut, the Zurich based manufacturer of cocoa, chocolate and confectionery products, inaugurated its new chocolate factory in Chekhov, 60 kms south of Moscow, on 18 September 2007. The factory has a production capacity of 27,500 metric tonnes.

The company quadrupled its Russian sales between 2000 and 2005 and aims to further triple them within three years. It has identified Russia as its key target market in eastern Europe.

The factory will not be utilised to manufacture consumer products but will supply domestic and multi-national manufacturers and artisanal producers.

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Russia Chocolate Confectionery 2007

Snapdata's Snapshots Russia Chocolate Confectionery 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Russian chocolate confectionery market, and covers loose chocolate sweets, chocolate bars, chocolate tablets and countlines. It does not include sales of cocoa and chocolate drinks. Market volume is based on consumption. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots Russia Chocolate Confectionery 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Food industry coverage.

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Snapdata's Snapshots France Chocolate Confectionery 2007 provides 2005 year-end market size data, with 2006 estimates, 4 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the French chocolate confectionery market, and covers tablets, bars and confectionary. Market value is based on retail sales. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots France Chocolate Confectionery 2007 forms part of Snapdata's Food industry coverage.

COMMERCIAL BANKING

DBS Group comfortable with their exposure to US mortgage debt.

In late August 2007 Singapore's central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, issued a second warning to banks to appraise their exposure to US mortgage debt.

The warning was prompted by the DBS Group's announcement that its direct exposure to collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) was nearly double that previously announced.

DBS emphasised in their statement of 27 August that of their total SG$2.4bn holding in CDOs only 12% were directly exposed to US sub-prime mortgages. Their total CDO exposure amounted to only 1% of overall assets.

CONFECTIONERY MARKET

Cadbury-Schweppes acquires Japanese throat candy manufacturer.

Subsequent to their acquisition of Adams, Cadbury-Schweppes has made significant market share gains in the Japanese chewing gum market.

In July 2007 they acquired Sansei Foods Co. Ltd. which sells sugar-free functional candy (primarily throat lozenges) in Japan under the Teicalo and Xylicrystal brands. They have an approximate 4% market share of the total candy market and 14% of the throat candy market in which Cadbury-Schweppes is represented by Halls.

WINE MARKET

In Canada wine sales have surpassed those of spirits for the first time.

The Canadian wine industry underwent a significant transformation in the late 1980s and early 1990s as growers introduced wine quality grapes to replace the native Labrusca grape.

Between 1997 and 2005 the industry's real GDP grew at an average 7.1% as opposed to 3.0% for Canadian industry as a whole.

Statistics Canada reports that the value of wines sold in 2005 surpassed the value of spirits for the first time but at 25.2% still lagged beers which represented 50.4% of the alcoholic beverage market.