TORONTO--(MARKET WIRE)--Jul 15, 2008 -- Marketwire, a full-service newswire and communications workflow solutions provider, today announces completion of its expanded Asia Pacific news distribution platform and media contact database. Developed to meet a growing demand by communications professionals for premier news distribution services in this rapidly growing business market, the expansion establishes regional headquarters in Shanghai and an office in Hong Kong, media research labs in Manila and Beijing, new Asia Pacific distribution partnerships, and enhanced Asia Pacific media contact data in its independently sourced media management and workflow solution Mediahub.

Marketwire's recent Asia Pacific expansion, which aligns with its emerging markets strategy, began in February 2008 with the acquisition of International Media Services Companies. Since then the newswire has made continuing regional investments to support an increasing demand for effective news distribution in the challenging Asia Pacific market.

"Our goal is to leverage our local resources and presence throughout Asia to provide the most effective tools for managing cultural differences, language challenges and complex media environments for our clients in the region," said Hector Botero, vice president, Emerging Markets, Marketwire. "Nothing replaces a deep-rooted local understanding of the Asian markets."

In this year alone Marketwire has established its Beijing operations, obtained Chinese government approval for its Shanghai-based China corporate headquarters, acquired Media Services Asia and Asia Release in Hong Kong, and launched full-service media research labs in Manila and Beijing. In addition, Marketwire introduced several exclusive distribution circuits such as its Beijing Summer Games Newsline.

"Our commitment to building emerging market and global resources speaks for itself," said Thom Brodeur, senior vice president, global strategy and corporate development, Marketwire. "We intend to provide our sophisticated client base with the industry's best communications solutions worldwide."

The project to enhance Marketwire's regional news distribution services and media management solution includes rounding out its news distribution (newswire) platform and enhancing media contact information for the following Asian locations: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Marketwire's regional distribution partners include:

• Media Services Asia and Asia Release, a Hong Kong based newswire, founded in 2002 and recently acquired by Marketwire China. Specializing in reaching media in the Asia Pacific region, Asia Release offers a wide variety of distribution options including translations into Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Thai and Arabic. Media Services Asia and Asia Release are supported by Mediahub Media Research Labs in Beijing and Manila, offering the largest in-region research capability in the industry.
• Japan Corporate News Network (JCN) K.K., established in 2001, helps companies provide information to stakeholders in both Japanese and English and enables international access to corporate, financial and technology information from the world's second-largest economy. JCN publishes Japanese news from world-leading sectors including health, medical equipment and pharmacology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, alternative energy, environment, electronics, wireless communications, advanced materials and scientific and medical research to the global market.
• India PRwire, which serves as a community for journalists with more than 3,000 media subscribers in India. India PRwire delivers corporate, governmental and institutional news electronically and through the most popular search engines in the region including Google, Yahoo!, NewsNow, Ask Jeeves, MSN and Lycos.
• ThaiBusinessNews.com, delivering news releases from the world's leading companies to the Thai media, financial markets, and investors. News release subjects include breaking news, earnings results, product announcements, mergers and acquisitions, public policy, legal issues, webcasts, press conference advisories and more, from thousands of companies in more than 100 industries.
• Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), one of the most influential ministries in China created to stimulate scientific research and technology development to grow China's industrial base. It sets forth macro strategies, guidelines, policies and regulations, and it conducts research. One of its key missions is to disseminate global news and information to China's financial, industrial and commercial sectors.
• Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (ISTIC), established in 1956, with 850 employees, 11 business units, one wholly owned company (in Hong Kong), three joint venture companies and one stock holding company. ISTIC conducts a wide range of services such as database building, information analysis and research, training, publishing, and news and information distribution to meet the demands of China's national economic, financial, business, science and technology, and social development.
• Technological Information Promotion System (TIPS), a global organization of more than 100 technological, economic and trade information services companies that promote trade, technology transfer and economic cooperation between developed countries and developing countries through information sharing. Established in 1985, TIPS' international operations center is in Rome, with regional centers located in Asia, Europe and Latin America, and a sub-regional center in the United States.
• China Industrial Newspaper Information Center (CINIC), established in 1997 by the China Newspaper Association, and comprised of several dozen state-level industrial media outlets, it is one of China's largest information publishing websites. CINIC's database contains more than 2 million pieces of news data from 54 state-level industrial media, and it updates 1,500 pieces of news every day.
• Information Explorer Ltd. (IEL), specializing in news, data and research on China's industry and economy, with a focus on the global market. By integrating China's media resources, IEL provides an effective channel to help global customers understand China's development. IEL's website is a leading, one-stop online information platform featuring news about China's industry and economy, and includes data, research reports and value-added services.
• Xinhua InfoLink, the operating company of China Industrial Newspaper Information Center and the only company in China authorized to sell news overseas for the newspaper association. It boasts more than 150 websites and 75 industrial newspapers covering all major industrial sectors such as energy, tourism, automotive and information technology. News content provided from Xinhua InfoLink is in Chinese, English and Japanese.
• Media Monitors, Asia Pacific's leading media intelligence company, based in Australia. It offers innovative technology, extensive coverage and rigorous research, allowing more than 4,000 clients the insight to communicate with relevant journalists and editors, monitor their interests across all media, and analyze their brands or messages.
• 22 Chinese websites. Marketwire guarantees press release publication on 22 high-profile Chinese websites such as Tianshannet, Beelink.com, China Investment, Jiaodong Online and China Business.

Depending on the circuit, press releases are translated into Hindi, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese.

About Marketwire

The only fully integrated North America-based global newswire, Marketwire, Inc. is a full-service partner to IR, PR and MarCom professionals seeking top-tier press release distribution, media management, multimedia and monitoring solutions. Marketwire's customer-centric corporate philosophy focuses on being the best by infusing every aspect of its business with the following core attributes: precision, adaptability, innovation and simplicity.

Marketwire delivers its clients' news to the world's media and financial communities, fulfilling disclosure requirements in North America in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), and serving as Primary Information Provider (PIP) with the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA). With a reputation for technology leadership, Marketwire offers innovative products and services -- including Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Dashboard Mobile Financial, News Dashboard coverage reports, exclusive access to networks such as the Canadian Press Wire Network, Easy IR and Easy PR workflow solutions, and more -- that help communication professionals maximize their effectiveness while ensuring accuracy and best practices. Having merged companies (Market Wire and CCNMatthews) in April 2006, and enjoying a combined history of 25 years of service, Marketwire is now majority-owned by OMERS Capital Partners, the private equity arm of one of Canada's largest pension funds.

Marketwire distributes the majority of press releases issued by publicly traded companies in Canada and serves more than 8,000 clients worldwide through 19 offices on four continents. For more information, visit us at www.marketwire.com.

     For additional information:
      
     Paolina Milana
     Marketwire
     (310) 765-3250
     pmilana@marketwire.com
      
     Marcia Chapman
     Brodeur
     (602) 808-1169
     mchapman@brodeur.com