Don't Miss Out! Two Weeks Left to Register for the 2010 IR Global Rankings

NEW YORK, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- MZ Consult NY ( www.mz-ir.com), a leading global investor relations and financial communications firm, announces that the registration period for the 12th annual edition of the IR Global Rankings and Awards ("IRGR") is open to all companies across the world. The 2010 IRGR, supported by KPMG, Arnold & Porter, The Bank of New York Mellon, Corporate Asia Network and Bloomberg is a unique and independent external review of any company's communication process with the capital markets.

TO PARTICIPATE, COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER. Please visit the website www.irglobalrankings.com, or type IRGR < GO > into the Bloomberg terminal. On the website homepage companies can review the 2010 IRGR Information Package with all the details on free and paid rankings. The three main ranking categories are: (i) IR websites, (ii) corporate governance practices and (iii) financial disclosure procedures.

More than 190 companies from over 33 countries have already registered for the 2010 IR Global Rankings, among them (in alphabetical order): ABNote (BMF&BOVESPA: ABNB3); adidas (FSE: ADS); Aditya Birla Nuvo (NSE: ABIRLANUVO); AECOM (NYSE: ACM); Aegon (EURONEXT: AGN.AS); Air France-KLM (EURONEXT: AFLYY); Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM); AkzoNobel (EURONEXT: AKZA); ALL - America Latina Logistica (BMF&BOVESPA: ALLL1); AmBev (NYSE: ABV); American Water Works Company (NYSE: AWK); AMP (ASX: AMP.AX); Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT); Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD); ARM Holdings (LSE: ARM); Aurobindo Pharma (NSE: AUROPHARMA); Banca MPS (FTSE: BMPS.MI); Banco BPI (EURONEXT: BBPI.LS); Banco Cruzeiro do Sul (BMF&BOVESPA: CZRS4); Banco Daycoval (BMF&BOVESPA: DAYC4); Bank of Communications (HKSE: 03328); Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO); BASF (XETRA: BAS.DE); Bayer (XETRA: BAYN GY); Brasil Brokers (BMF&BOVESPA: BBRK3); BrasilAgro (BMF&BOVESPA: AGRO3); Braskem (BMF&BOVESPA: BRKM5); BRF Brasil Foods (BMF&BOVESPA: PRGA3); Brightpoint, Inc (NASDAQ: CELL); Britvic PLC (LSE: BVIC); Bursa Malaysia Berhad (MYX: BJURSA MK); Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT); CCR (BMF&BOVESPA: CCRO3); Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE); Central European Media Enterprises (PSE: CETV); Cephas Holding (OTCBB: CEHC); Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK); China BAK Battery (NASDAQ: CBAK); China Telecom (NYSE: CHA); China XD Plastics Company (OTCBB: CXDC); CipherLab Co. (TWSE: 6160); Colgate- Palmolive (NYSE: CL); Construtora Tenda (BMF&BOVESPA: TEND3); Copasa (BMF&BOVESPA: CSMG3); Corporacion GEO (MXK: GEOB); Cosan (BMF&BOVESPA: CSAN3); Credit Suisse (SWX: CSGN); DASA (BMF&BOVESPA: DASA3); Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE: DLM); Delta Electronics (TWSE: 2308); D-Link (TWSE: 2332); Dowa ( Tokyo: DOWA); Duff & Phelps (NYSE: DUF); Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC); EDP - Energias de

Portugal (PSI: EDP.PL); Embraer (NYSE: ERJ); Enagas (MSE: ENAG.MC); Energisa S.A. (BMF&BOVESPA: ENGI); Enersis (NYSE: ENI-US); Equatorial Energia (BMF&BOVESPA: EQTL3); ev3 Inc. (NASDAQ: EVVV); EVN (NYSE: EVN); F. Hoffmann - La Roche (SIX: ROG VX); Fedex (NYSE: FDX); FelCor Lodging Trust (NYSE: FCH); Fertilizantes Heringer (BMF&BOVESPA: FHER3); Fosun International (HKSE: 00656); Fraport (FSE: FRA GR); Fresenius Medical Care (FSE: FME); Fubon Financial Holding (TWSE: 2881); Gafisa (NYSE: GFA); Galp Energia (EURONEXT: GALP PL); Garanti Bank (ISE: GARAN); Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT); Gazprom Neft (MSE: SIBN); General Electric Company (NYSE: GE); Gerresheimer (FSE: GXI XE); Global Bio-chem Technology Group (HKSE: 0809); Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL); Global Sweeteners Holdings (HKSE: 03889); GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL); Hansen Transmissions International (LSE: HSN); Hercules Technology Growth Capital (NASDAQ: HTGC); Hochtief (FSE: HOT); Homex (OTC: DHMXF.PK); Hypermarcas (BMF&BOVESPA: HYPE3); Hysan Development Company (HKSE: HYSNY.PK); IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE: IAG); Indra (IBEX 35: IDR.MC); Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ: INFY); Integrys Energy Group (NYSE: TEG); Intel (NASDAQ: INTC); Internet Initiative (NASDAQ: IIJI); Kingsoft Corporation (HKSE: 03888); Kotak Mahindra Bank (BSE: 500247); Life Technologies (NASDAQ: LIFE); Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM); Localiza Rent a Car (BMF&BOVESPA: RENT3); Logica (LSE: LOG); Longtop Financial Technologies (NYSE: LFT); Lonza (SIX: LONN); Lukoil (LSE: LKOD); Lupatech (BMF&BOVESPA: LUPA3); Marisa (BMF&BOVESPA: MARI3); Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS); METRO (FSE: MEO); Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT); Mindray Medical International (NYSE: MR); Moody's (NYSE: MCO); MorphoSys (FSE: MOR); Nacional Financiera (MXK: NAFTRAC02); National Bank Financial Group (TSX: NA); Nedbank Group (JSE: NED); Net Servicos (BMF&BOVESPA: NETC4); New World Resources (LSE: NWR LN); Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM); Nexen (NYSE: NXY); Novartis (VIRT-X: NOVN.VX ); NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG); Nucleus Software Exports (NSE: NUCLEUS); OC Oerlikon (SIX: OERL); Outokumpu (NASDAQ: OUT1V.HE); Pampa Energia (BCBA: PAMP); Partner Communications (NASDAQ: PTNR); Positivo Informatica (BMF&BOVESPA: POSI3); PotashCorp (NYSE: POT); PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG); Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG); Profarma (BMF&BOVESPA: PFRM3); PT Excelcomindo Pratama (JAK: EXCL); PT. Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa (IDX: INTP); Randstad Holding (EURONEXT: RAND); Renova Energia (None: None); Rieter Group (SIX: RIEN); Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: RDSA); Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG); Ryder System (NYSE: R); Sampo Plc (NASDAQ: SAMAS); Sanofi-Aventis (EURONEXT: SAN); Santos Brasil (BMF&BOVESPA: STBP11); Sappi (JSE: SAP); Shin Kong Financial Holding (TWSE: 2888); Shinsei Bank (TSE: 8303); Shire Pharmaceuticals Group (LSE: SHP.L); Shun Tak Holdings (HKSE: 242); Sistema Educacional Brasileiro (BMF&BOVESPA: SEBB11); SMIC (NYSE: SMI); Solomon Systech Limited (HKSE: 2878); Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN); Springs Global (BMF&BOVESPA: SGPS3); STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM); Stora Enso (OMX: STERV); Strabag (WBAG: STR); Sul America (BMF&BOVESPA: SULA11); Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (NSE: SUNPHARMA); Swiss Life (SIX: SLHN); Syngenta International (SMI: SYNN VX); Teck Resources (NYSE: TCK); Telecom Egypt (EGX: ETEL.CA); Telefonica O2 Czech Republic (PSE: SPTT.PR); Telekom Austria (VSE: TKA); Telvent Git (NASDAQ: TLVT); Temenos (SIX: TEMN); Tenaris (NYSE: TS); The United Laboratories International (HKSE: 03933); TIM Participacoes (NYSE: TSU); Tractebel Energia (BMF&BOVESPA: TBLE3); Trend Micro (TSE: 4704); Triunfo Participacoes (BMF&BOVESPA: TPIS3); Turk Telecom (ISE: TTKOM); UCB (EURONEXT: UCB-XB); Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL); Unum Group (NYSE: UNM); URS Corporation (NYSE: URS); Vecima Networks (TSX: VCM); VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN); Vermilion Energy Trust (TSX: VET.UN); Volkswagen (FSE: VLKAY); Wal-Mart de Mexico (NASDAQ: IBKR); Wendy's / Arby's (NYSE: WEN); WestJet (TSX: WJA); WNS Holdings (NYSE: WNS); Yageo Corporation (TWSE: 2327); Yongye International (NASDAQ: YONG); Yuanta Financial Holdings (TWSE: 2885.TW); Yucheng Technologies (NASDAQ: YTEC).

Conference Call Replay: The September 1st webcast replay that discussed the news and procedures of this new edition is available on the website homepage ( www.irglobalrankings.com). You can also download and/or request a free copy of the 2009 IRGR magazine.

TOP 5 REASONS TO SIGN UP FOR the 2010 IR GLOBAL RANKINGS

1) Unique Ranking System: IRGR is the sole investor relations ranking system based on technical reviews (not opinion surveys or polls) and is supported by the input of audit and legal experts. IRGR is a unique way to have an external review and positioning of your investor relations and financial communications efforts among best practices among leading companies worldwide.

2) Individual Feedback: Participants who choose to acquire the individual feedback report will receive detailed suggestions for improvements where applicable. This report can be discussed later in a private conference call with the IRGR staff, upon request by the participating company.

3) Solid Benchmarking: By registering for IRGR, your company will be ranked among companies worldwide in all industries. Our extensive client base allows us to identify, rank and disclose the best IR communication programs in the world. Only positive examples are publicly disclosed.

4) High Transparency: Evaluation criteria and results are available on the IRGR website. IRGR analysts are responsible for performing a thorough analysis and an independent technical committee will review them in their entirety;

5) Great Recognition: Best ranked companies will be recognized in Award Ceremonies around the world. IRGR widely discloses top ranked companies through global media wires done by PRNewswire -- the largest news distributor in the world. Best cases will also be highlighted in the IR Global Rankings magazine that is freely distributed in the capital markets community.

The following companies were registered for 2009 IR Global Rankings: Abertis ( MADRID: ABE); adidas (XETRA: ADS.DE); Aegon (NYSE: AEG); AkzoNobel (Euronext: AKZA); ALL - America Latina Logistica (BOVESPA: ALLL11); Alltop Technology (TWSE: 3526); AmBev (NYSE: ABV); Amil Participacoes (BOVESPA: AMIL3); AMP (ASX: AMP); AMS Homecare (TSX: AHCK); Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD); Assurant (NYSE: AIZ); ASUR (NYSE: ASR); Asustek Computer (TWSE: 2357); Banco Bradesco (NYSE: BBD); Banco Nossa Caixa (BOVESPA: BNCA3); Bancolombia (NYSE: CIB); Bank of Montreal (TSX: BMO); BASF (XETRA: BAS.DE); Bayer (XETRA: BAY); BBVA ( Madrid: BBVA); Bematech (BOVESPA: BEMA3); Brascan Residential Properties S.A. (BOVESPA: BISA3); Brasil Telecom (NYSE: BTM); Braskem (BOVESPA: BRKM5); Cameco (NYSE: CCJ); CCR (BOVESPA: CCRO3); CHI MEI OPTOELECTRONICS CORPORATION (TSE: 3009.tw); China Agri-Industries Holdings (HKSE: 606); China Railway (HKSE: 390); China Telecom (NYSE: CHA); Chunghwa Telecom (TSE: 2412); Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO); CNinsure (Nasdaq: CISG); Coelce - Cia Energetica do Ceara (BOVESPA: COCE5); Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL); Copel (BOVESPA: CPLE6); COSCO International Holdings (HKG: 517); Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS); Crucell (Euronext: CRXL); CSN - Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (NYSE: SID); Danske Bank (OMX: DANSKE); D-Link (TWSE: 2332); DSM (Euronext: DSM); Dufry South America (BOVESPA: DUFB11); E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC); Embraer (NYSE: ERJ); Endesa Chile (NYSE: EOC); Energisa (BOVESPA: ENGI); Enersis (NYSE: ENI-US); Eternit (BOVESPA: ETER3); EZTEC Empreendimentos e Participacoes S.A. (BOVESPA: EZTC3); Far Eastern Textile (TWSE: 1402); FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX); First Financial Holding (TSE: 2892.tw); Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS); Galp Energia (EURONEXT: GALP PL); Gazprom Neft (RTS: SIBN); General Electric Company (NYSE: GE); Gerdau (NYSE: GGB); Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL); Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL); GVT (BOVESPA: GVTT3); Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE); Homex (OTC: DHMXF.PK); HSBC (LSE: HSBA.L); HTC Corporation (TWSE: 2498); Hysan Development Company (HKSE: HYSNY.PK); IC RUSS-INVEST (RTS: RUSIG); Indra ( Madrid: IDR); Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ: INFY); Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC); JBS (BOVESPA: JBSS3); Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ); Kotak Mahindra Bank (BSE: 500247); Lam Research (Nasdaq: LRCX); Life Technologies (NASDAQ: LIFE); Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM); M. Dias Branco (BOVESPA: MDIA3); Marfrig (BOVESPA: MRFG3); Masisa (NYSE: MYS); Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT); Natural Beauty Bio-Technology (HKSE: 157); Net Servicos (BOVESPA: NETC4); Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM); Nexen (NYSE: NXY); Norsk Hydro ( OSLO: NHY); Novartis (VIRT-X: NOVN.VX ); Oi (NYSE: TNE); Orascom Telecom (CASE: ORTE); Ossur (OMX: OSSR); Pacific Basin ( Hong Kong: 2343); Pampa Energia (BCBA: PAMP); Partner Communications Company (NASDAQ: PTNR); PDG Realty (BOVESPA: PDGR3); PEMEX (NONE: NONE); Perdigao (NYSE: PDA); Petrobras (BOVESPA: PETR3); Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (NYSE: PHI); Positivo Informatica (BOVESPA: POSI3); PotashCorp (NYSE: POT); Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG); ProFarma (BOVESPA: PFRM3); PT Excelcomindo Pratama (JAK: EXCL); PT Indosat (NYSE: IIT); PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (NYSE: TLK); QIAGEN (NASDAQ: QGEN); Redecard (BOVESPA: RDCD3); RepsolYPF ( MADRID: REP); Rodobens Negocios Imobiliarios (BOVESPA: RDNI3); Royal Ahold (Euronext: AH); Royal Bank of Canada (TSX: RY); Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.B); Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHIA); RusHydro (RTS: HYDR); RWE (XETRA: RWE); Ryder (NYSE: R); Santander (NYSE: STD); Sao Paulo Alpargatas (BOVESPA: ALPA4); SAPPI (NYSE: SPP); Satipel (Bovespa: SATI3); Shin Kong Financial Holding (TWSE: 2888); Shinsei Bank (TSE: 8303); Shun Tak Holdings Limited ( Hong Kong: 242); Sonae (EURONEXT: SON PL); Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN); SpareBank ( OSLO: MING); Statkraft AS (None: None); Sul America (BOVESPA: SULA11); Sulzer (SWX: SUN); Suzano Papel e Celulose (BOVESPA: SUZB5); Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC); Syngenta International (NYSE: SYT); Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM); TAM (NYSE: TAM); Tatneft (NYSE: TNT); TD Bank Financial (NYSE: TD); Tecnisa (BOVESPA: TCSA3); Tegma Gestao Logistica (BOVESPA: TGMA3); Telecom Argentina (NYSE: TEO); Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI); Telekom Austria (VIE: TKA.VI); Telekomunikacja Polska ( Warsaw: TPSA); Telkom (NYSE: TKG); Terna (Bovespa: TRNA11); Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TOC); Total (NYSE: TOT); Totvs (BOVESPA: TOTS3); Tractebel Energia (BOVESPA: TBLE3); Turk Telekomunikasyon (ISE: TTKOM); Tyco International (NYSE: TYC); Ultrapar (NYSE: UGP); Unibanco (NYSE: UBB); Unum Group (NYSE: UNM); URS (NYSE: URS); VimpelCom (NYSE: VIP); Votorantim Celulose e Papel (NYSE: VCP); WABCO (NYSE: WBC); Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG); Wendy's/Arby's (NYSE: WEN); Wipro (NYSE: WIT); Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM); Zurich Financial Services (SWX: ZURN).

To learn more about the 2010 IRGR or to download the 2009 IRGR magazine with winners and best practices, please visit www.irglobalrankings.com or type IRGR < GO > into the Bloomberg Terminal.

For further information, please contact: The IRGR Team, Email: irgr@mz- ir.com, phone: +1 (212) 813-2975

About IR Global Rankings ( www.irglobalrankings.com): Solid communication with the investment community is a key priority for investor relations and corporate governance professionals, once value creation (stock prices) and risk perception can be managed. The implementation of best practices in communicating with the capital markets and fair disclosure procedures do help companies in earning and maintaining investor confidence. The annual IR Global Rankings and Awards survey is the most comprehensive auditing and ranking system for IR websites, corporate governance practices and financial disclosure procedures - a great opportunity to benchmark IR efforts vis-a-vis peers and industry leaders. Based on extensive proprietary research of publicly held companies and investors, and supported by input from independent audit, corporate governance and legal experts (KPMG, Arnold & Porter, Demarest,

Mattos Filho and Barbosa Mussnich), MZ's methodology is highly detailed, transparent and fully accessible to all participants. The annual IR Global Rankings and Awards has grown each year since 1999.

Amanda Munhoz +1 (212) 813-2975 irgr@mz-ir.com

SOURCE MZ Consult NY LLC