Coinstar (CSTR) Centers Expanding Free Coin Counting Options for Music Lovers

BELLEVUE, Wash., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Coinstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTR) today announced it will be working with Amazon.com to offer another convenient way for consumers to use cash to purchase music downloads. The Coinstar and Amazon collaboration makes it possible for consumers to exchange coins at Coinstar Centers® – with no transaction fee – for a gift card redeemable for Amazon MP3 music downloads or millions of other items at www.amazon.com.

“Coinstar is constantly looking for offerings that make using coins for online or retail purchases easier for consumers,” said Engle Saez, vice president of product management and consumer experience at Coinstar.

To kick off the new offering, Coinstar and Amazon are hosting a promotion to help consumers get even more for their coins. Between now and May 31, consumers get a bonus code for Amazon MP3 music downloads when they redeem Amazon MP3-branded gift cards from Coinstar – the bonus code will be worth $1 for every $5 in Amazon MP3-branded gift cards redeemed, up to $5 in bonus code value. For promotion details visit http://www.coinstar.com/amazon.

“We are excited to be working with Coinstar to offer our customers more purchasing options,” said Kristin Smith, senior manager of digital music at Amazon. “We think Amazon MP3 customers will enjoy the ease at which they can turn loose change into songs for their music library.”

The average American household has an estimated $90 in loose change, that’s typically enough to fill your MP3 player with all of Amazon MP3’s top 10 bestselling albums and songs. For more information about Coinstar’s free coin counting program, which offers gift cards and eCertificates from a variety of national retailers, visit coinstar.com.

About Coinstar, Inc.

Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR) is a leading provider of automated retail solutions offering convenient services that make life easier for consumers and drive incremental traffic and revenue for its retailers. The company’s core automated retail businesses are self-service coin counting and self-service DVD rental. Other Coinstar services include e-payment and money transfer services. The company’s services can be found at more than 95,000 points of presence including supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchants, financial institutions, convenience stores, restaurants, and money transfer agents. For more information, visit www.coinstar.com.

Coinstar is an authorized reseller of Amazon.com Gift Cards, which are issued exclusively by ACI Gift Cards, Inc.—an Amazon.com company.

Acme Packet (APKT) Reports Record Results for First Quarter of 2010

Apr. 29, 2010 (Business Wire) — Acme Packet, Inc. (NASDAQ: APKT), the leader in session border control solutions, today announced record results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 and raised its business outlook for 2010.

Results for the First Quarter of 2010

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2010 was $51.1 million, compared to $31.0 million in the first quarter of 2009 and $41.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Net income for the first quarter of 2010 was $8.3 million, or $0.13 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $2.8 million, or $0.05 per share on a diluted basis in the first quarter of 2009 and $9.1 million, or $0.14 per share on a diluted basis, in the fourth quarter of 2009. Net income on a non-GAAP basis for the first quarter of 2010 was $10.7 million, or $0.16 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $4.3 million, or $0.07 per share on a diluted basis, in the first quarter of last year, and $6.8 million, or $0.11 per share on a diluted basis, in the fourth quarter of 2009. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included at the end of this press release.

Company Raises Business Outlook for 2010

The Company today raised its full year business outlook for 2010. The Company’s outlook is based on the current indications for its business, which may change at any time.

Company to Host Live Conference Call and Webcast

The Company’s management team plans to host a live conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. eastern daylight savings time today to discuss the financial results as well as management’s outlook for the business. The conference call may be accessed in the United States by dialing (800) 230-1092 and using access code “APKT”. The conference call may be accessed outside of the United States by dialing +1 612.332.0530 and using access code “APKT”. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast on the Company’s investor relations website, which can be accessed at www.ir.acmepacket.com. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the call by dialing (800) 475-6701 and using access code 153011 or by accessing the webcast replay on the Company’s investor relations website.

__________________

¹A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included at the end of this press release.

About Acme Packet, Inc.

Acme Packet, Inc. (NASDAQ: APKT), the leader in session border control solutions, enables the delivery of trusted, first-class interactive communications—voice, video and multimedia sessions—and data services across IP network borders. Our Net-Net family of session border controllers, multiservice security gateways and session routing proxies supports multiple applications in service provider, enterprise and contact center networks—from VoIP trunking to hosted enterprise and residential services to fixed-mobile convergence. They satisfy critical security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in wireline, cable and wireless networks; and support multiple protocols—SIP, H.323, MGCP/NCS, H.248 and RTSP—and multiple border points—service provider access and interconnect, and enterprise access and trunking. Over 10,000 Acme Packet systems have been deployed by more than 1,035 customers in 105 countries. They include 90 of the top 100 service providers in the world and 11 of the Fortune 25. For more information, contact us at +1 781.328.4400, or visit www.acmepacket.com.

Acme Packet, Inc. Safe Harbor Statement

Statements contained herein that are not historical fact (including those in the section “Company Raises Business Outlook for 2010”) may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may relate, among other things, to expected financial and operating results and to future business prospects and market conditions. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These include, but are not limited to: difficulties expanding the Company’s customer base; difficulties leveraging market opportunities; difficulties providing solutions that meet the needs of customers; poor product sales; long sales cycles; difficulty developing new products; difficulty in relationships with vendors and partners; higher risk in international operations; difficulty managing rapid growth; difficulty managing the Company’s financial performance; the ability to hire and retain employees and appropriately staff operations; the spending of the proceeds of its capital raising activities; the Company’s cash needs; and the impact of new accounting pronouncements and increased competition. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in the Company’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in such filings.

Acme Packet, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Income and Other Operational Data

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

The Company uses the financial measures “non-GAAP net income” and “non-GAAP net income per share” to supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The presentation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share is not meant to be a substitute for “net income” or “net income per share”, presented in accordance with GAAP, but rather should be evaluated in conjunction with net income and net income per share. The Company’s management believes that the presentation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share provides useful information to investors because this financial measure excludes stock-based compensation expense which is a non-cash charge, as well as amortization of acquired intangible assets associated with the Company’s acquisition of Covergence Inc. on April 30, 2009. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share for the three months ended December 31, 2009 also excludes a gain associated with the Company’s acquisition of Covergence on April 30, 2009. By excluding stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and the gain associated with the Company’s acquisition of Covergence, management can compare the Company’s ongoing operations to prior periods and to the ongoing operations of other companies in its industry who may have materially different unusual charges. Management does not consider any of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and the gain associated with the Company’s acquisition of Covergence to be part of the Company’s ongoing operating activities or meaningful in evaluating the Company’s past financial performance or future prospects. Management believes that excluding these items is useful to investors because it is more representative of ongoing costs and therefore more comparable to historical operations. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share are primary financial indicators that the Company’s management uses to evaluate the Company’s financial results and forecast anticipated financial results for future periods, and the business outlook assumes the exclusion of stock-based compensation expense for future periods. Management also uses these non-GAAP figures to make financial and operational decisions as these numbers exclude non-operational activities. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered measures of the Company’s liquidity. The Company’s definition of “non-GAAP net income” and/or “non-GAAP net income per share” may differ from similar measures used by other companies and may differ from period to period. Management may make other adjustments for expenses and gains that it does not consider reflective of core operating performance in a particular period and may modify “non-GAAP net income” and/or “non-GAAP net income per share” by excluding these expenses and gains.

Power-One (PWER) Posts Strong First Quarter 2010 Results

Apr. 29, 2010 (Business Wire) — Power-One, Inc. (NASDAQ: PWER), a leading provider of renewable energy and energy-efficient power conversion and power management solutions, today announced financial results for the first quarter 2010. Power-One recorded net sales of $152 million for the first quarter ended April 4, 2010, an increase of 56% from the first quarter 2009. Net income attributable to common stockholders for the first quarter was $3.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $61 million, or $0.70 per share for the same period last year.

Renewable energy products again recorded strong sequential revenue gains in the first quarter 2010, with positive demand trends continuing in 2010. The company’s renewable energy products posted a record $82 million in revenue for the first quarter 2010, equating to a year-over-year increase of 556% from $13 million in the first quarter 2009. For the first time, renewable energy products contributed the majority of the company’s revenue, at 54% of total sales in the quarter, versus 13% in the first quarter of 2009. Power-One’s power products generated revenue of $70 million in the first quarter 2010 versus $85 million in the same period of 2009, with the majority of the decline due to component shortages experienced in the industry. Total 90-day backlog showed extraordinary growth, as Power-One posted $205 million in 90-day backlog. The renewable energy products 90-day backlog rose to $142 million, while the power products backlog grew to $63 million.

Power-One expanded gross margin for the fourth consecutive quarter, improving to 30% in the first quarter of 2010, compared with 14% for the same period last year. Volume increases, a favorable product mix, improved processes and supply chain management contributed to the expansion. Gross margin was negatively affected by approximately $1.6 million in charges related to the closure of the Dominican Republic facility. Operating income for the first quarter 2010 was $21.1 million, or 14% of revenue, and was impacted by $2.6 million in total charges related to the closure of the Dominican Republic facility, slated to be completed by the end of the second quarter 2010. Net income included a $5.7 million dollar loss from the repurchase of $4.5 million in face value of Power-One’s 8% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2013.

“Renewable energy products once again showed considerable strength, driving sales and gross margin improvements for Power-One,” commented Richard Thompson, Chief Executive Officer. “With the growth in renewable energy and the restructuring of our power products, we are excited with our near-term opportunities. We are expanding capacity for our renewable energy inverters, signing new licensing agreements with marquee customers for our digital power technology and recording significant wins across most product lines.”

“Based on the strength and efficiency of our products and technology, we believe that we are taking market share,” continued Mr. Thompson. “Strategically, we are continuing to introduce new products and streamline manufacturing costs while expanding our global presence.”

Business Outlook

Consistent with prior quarters, the Company is not providing financial guidance for the quarter or the year.

Earnings Conference Call

Power-One will discuss its 2010 first quarter results today beginning at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The call will be available over the Internet through the Company’s investor relations Web site at http://investor.power-one.com. To listen to the call, please go to the Web site at least 10 minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, the webcast will be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s Web site at http://investor.power-one.com throughout the current quarter.

About Power-One

Power-One designs and manufactures energy-efficient power conversion and power management solutions for alternative/renewable energy, routers, data storage and servers, wireless communications, optical networking, semiconductor test equipment, industrial markets and custom applications. Power-One, with headquarters in Camarillo, California, has global sales offices, manufacturing, and R&D operations in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Power-One is a public company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol PWER. For more information about the Company, please visit www.Power-One.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this press release which state the Company’s or management’s intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may include statements regarding anticipated future productivity. It is important to note that future performance and actual results could differ materially from those discussed in or underlying such forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified and that are beyond the Company’s control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: economic conditions in general and business conditions in the power supplies and renewable energy markets; foreign exchange rates; the Company’s ability to improve its operational and supply chain efficiencies; competitive factors such as pricing and technology; the timing and results achieved in completing product manufacturing transitions to Company facilities in China or other low-cost locations; the threat of a prolonged economic slowdown or a lengthy or severe recession; continued volatility of the financial markets, including fluctuations in interest rates and trading prices of the Company’s equity securities; the results of pending legal proceedings; the Company’s ability to secure market share in higher margin, high-growth markets; the market growth of product sectors targeted by the Company as sectors of focus; and the Company’s ability to increase working capital. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations expressed in this press release are described in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from time to time, which are also available through the Company’s Website at www.power-one.com or through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov. Power-One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

CTI Industries Corp. (CTIB) First Quarter 2010 Financial Results

BARRINGTON, IL — (Marketwire) — 04/30/10 — CTI Industries Corporation (NASDAQ: CTIB), a manufacturer and marketer of flexible packaging and storage products, laminated films and novelty balloons, today announced its results of operations for the first quarter of 2010.

Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2010 were $12,411,000 compared to consolidated net sales of $9,603,000 for the first quarter of 2009, representing an increase of over 29%. The Company earned net income of $599,000 or $0.22 per share (basic) and $0.21 per share (diluted) for the first quarter of 2010 which is more than six times net income of $93,000 or $0.03 per share (basic and diluted) for the first quarter of 2009.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss first quarter results with investors. The conference call will be held on April 30, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time). The dial-in telephone number for the call is 800-829-2707. The participant passcode is 5469991. A replay of the call will be available from April 30, 2010 through May 30, 2010 by dialing 888-203-1112. The replay passcode is 5469991.

Key Factors and Trends

First quarter 2010 results reflected strong sales in both the novelty balloon and pouch product lines.

Sales of pouch products were up 208% from $986,000 in the first quarter 2009 to $3,041,000 in the first quarter of 2010. Most of this increase was a reflection of strong continuing sales of zippered vacuumable pouches to a principal customer. Sales of CTI’s proprietary ZipVac™ line of vacuumable pouches also increased.

Novelty product revenues were up 18.6%, from $6,580,000 in the first quarter of 2009 to $7,804,000 in the first quarter of 2010. Sales of laminated films showed a modest decline from $1,876,000 in the first quarter of 2009 to $1,367,000 in the first quarter of 2010.

Gross margins increased to 24.5% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 21.5% for the first quarter of 2009. This increase is the result of (i) increased production and sales volume during the first quarter of 2010 resulting in lower unit cost than in the same period of 2009 and (ii) a change in the mix of products sold to certain novelty and pouch products having a higher margin.

Bank Financing

On April 29, 2010, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with Harris N.A. (the “Bank”) under which the Bank agreed to extend to the Company a credit facility in the aggregate amount of $14,417,000. The facility includes a Revolving Credit of up to $9,000,000, an Equipment Loan of up to $2,500,000, a Mortgage Loan of $2,333,350 and a Term Loan of $583,333. The maturity date on the loans is April 29, 2013. Closing of the Agreement and the loan transactions provided for in the Agreement is anticipated to be concluded on April 30, 2010. Proceeds of the loans will be utilized for the repayment of all outstanding loan and capital lease obligations of the Company to RBS Citizens N.A. and RBS Asset Finance in the aggregate amount of approximately $11,000,000, and for working capital purposes and for the purchase of capital equipment.

Statements made in this release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statement (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. These “forward-looking” statements may include, but are not limited to, statements containing words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or similar expressions. Factors that could cause results to differ are identified in the public filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information on factors that could affect CTI’s business and financial results are included in its public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

— FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOLLOW —

CTI Industries Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                      March 31, 2010      December 31, 2009

                                    ---------------------------------------
               Assets                  (Unaudited)
Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents        $         678,517     $         870,446
   Accounts receivable, net                 8,694,793             7,320,181
   Inventories, net                        10,124,880             9,643,914
   Other current assets                     1,304,642             1,313,881
                                    ---------------------------------------
Total current assets                       20,802,832            19,148,422

Property, plant and equipment, net          9,231,630             9,533,411
Other assets                                1,790,315             1,713,476
                                    ---------------------------------------

Total Assets                        $      31,824,777     $      30,395,309
                                    =======================================

        Liabilities & Equity
Total current liabilities           $      18,414,732     $      16,734,520
Long term debt, less current
 maturities                                 3,641,674             4,881,568
Stockholders' equity                        9,711,245             8,762,663
Noncontrolling interest                        57,126                16,558
                                    ---------------------------------------

Total Liabilities & Equity          $      31,824,777     $      30,395,309
                                    =======================================

Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                          Three Months Ended March 31
                                           2010                  2009
                                    ---------------------------------------
                                       (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)

Net sales                           $      12,410,766     $       9,603,422
Cost of sales                               9,366,194             7,536,919
                                    ---------------------------------------

Gross profit                                3,044,572             2,066,503

Operating expenses                          2,084,516             1,604,755
                                    ---------------------------------------

Income from operations                        960,056               461,748

Other (expense) income:
   Net Interest expense                      (244,073)             (295,551)
   Other                                      (13,223)              (21,598)
                                    ---------------------------------------

Income before income taxes and
 noncontrolling interest                      702,760               144,599

Net Income                                    116,359                50,158
                                    ---------------------------------------

Income before noncontrolling
 interest                                     586,401                94,441

Less: Net income (loss)
 attributable to noncontrolling
 interest                                     (12,443)                1,234
                                    ---------------------------------------

      Net income attributable to
       CTI Industries Corporation   $         598,844     $          93,207
                                    =======================================

Income applicable to common shares  $         598,844     $          93,207
                                    =======================================

Basic income per common share       $            0.22     $            0.03
                                    =======================================

Diluted income per common share     $            0.21     $            0.03
                                    =======================================

Weighted average number of shares
 and equivalent shares of common
 stock outstanding:
    Basic                                   2,769,002             2,808,720
                                    =======================================

    Diluted                                 2,793,863             2,825,482
                                    =======================================

NetSol Technologies (NTWK) to Reveal On Demand smartOCI(TM) Search Engine at SAPPHIRE(R) NOW Conference

CALABASAS, Calif., April 29, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NetSol Technologies, Inc. (“NetSol”) (Nasdaq:NTWK – News) (Nasdaq Dubai:NTWK), a U.S. corporation providing global business services and enterprise application solutions to private and public sector organizations worldwide, is set to reveal a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering for its smartOCI(TM) search engine at SAP’s SAPPHIRE(R) NOW conference being held May 16-19, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Hosted by SAP AG, the SAPPHIRE NOW show brings together software industry leaders to share and demonstrate innovative solutions running on-premise, on-demand or on-device to enable real-time decision-making. NetSol Technologies will be exhibiting at Booth Number 3415b.

NetSol’s smartOCI(TM) 1.0 is a new search engine technology developed to provide corporate buyers and shoppers a simple and intuitive user interface to search multiple supplier catalogs simultaneously within the SAP SRM application. Designed for customers who currently run the SAP Supplier Relationship Management eProcurement platform, smartOCI(TM) is delivered through the SaaS distribution model, where software applications are remotely hosted and users can securely access them from anywhere with an Internet connection.

The beta program for smartOCI(TM) 1.0, now employed by six customers, is set to end May 10, and the solution is currently pending SAP certification. NetSol will offer special “QuickStart” pricing packages to SAP customers attending the SAPPHIRE NOW event.

Najeeb Ghauri, Chairman and CEO of NetSol, commented: “We wanted to provide our customers with a solution that drives immediate and real value to procurement organizations without upfront hardware, software license and maintenance costs. Deploying our smartOCI(TM) search engine as a SaaS offering allows us to achieve this goal.”

About NetSol Technologies, Inc.

NetSol Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:NTWK – News) (Nasdaq Dubai:NTWK) is a worldwide provider of global IT and enterprise application solutions. Since its inception in 1995, NetSol has used its BestShoring(TM) practices and highly experienced resources in analysis, development, quality assurance, and implementation to deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions. Specialized by industry, these product and services offerings include credit and finance portfolio management systems, SAP consulting and services, custom development, systems integration, and technical services for the global Financial, Leasing, Insurance, Energy, and Technology markets. NetSol’s commitment to quality is demonstrated by its achievement of the ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and SEI (Software Engineering Institute) CMMI (Capability Maturity Model) Maturity Level 5 assessments, a distinction shared by fewer than 100 companies worldwide. NetSol Technologies’ clients include Fortune 500 manufacturers, global automakers, financial institutions, utilities, technology providers, and government agencies. Headquartered in Calabasas, California, NetSol Technologies has operations and offices in Alameda, Adelaide, Bangkok, Beijing, Karachi, Lahore, London, and Riyadh.

To learn more about NetSol, visit http://www.netsoltech.com/.

The NetSol Technologies, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7396

NetSol Technologies, Inc. Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the development of the Company’s products and services and future operation results, including statements regarding the Company that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” variations of such words, and similar expressions, identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect the Company’s actual results include the progress and costs of the development of products and services and the timing of the market acceptance. The subject Companies expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any statement is based.

Solitario Exploration & Royalty (XPL) Signs Major Agreement with Buenaventura

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (“Solitario;” NYSE Amex: XPL; TSX: SLR) is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive Venture Agreement with COMPAÑÍA DE MINAS BUENAVENTURA S.A.A (“Buenaventura;” NYSE: BVN; Lima: BUE.LM), on Solitario’s Pachuca Real silver-gold project in central Mexico. Solitario’s 100%-owned Pachuca Real project encompasses approximately 31,300 hectares of mineral rights in and around the famed Pachuca silver-gold mining district. Historic production from the Pachuca district totals approximately 1.4 billion ounces of silver and over 7.0 million ounces of gold, making it the largest silver-gold district in the world. A map of the project area, can be viewed on Solitario’s website at http://www.solitarioxr.com/art/pachuca.pdf

Terms of the Venture Agreement

Overall, the Venture Agreement (“Agreement”) is structured very similarly to a Net Profit Interest (“NPI”) royalty, in that Solitario is essentially financed to production if Buenaventura elects to earn its ultimate potential interest of 70%. The Agreement calls for a firm work commitment by Buenaventura of $2.0 million over the first 18 months. Work commitments over the entire 4.5 years total $12.0 million.

Buenaventura will earn a 51% interest in the project upon the completion of $12.0 million in expenditures. Buenaventura will have the right to earn an additional 14% (total 65%) by completing a positive feasibility study for the project. During the feasibility stage, Buenaventura is required to spend a minimum of $5.0 million annually until such time as the positive feasibility study is completed. Buenaventura has the right to terminate the agreement at anytime following its firm initial work commitment.

Upon completion of the feasibility study, Solitario will have the option to self-finance its 35%-participating interest in the project, or to have Buenaventura fund its portion of construction costs at Libor + 3%. If Solitario elects to have Buenaventura fund its portion of construction costs, then Solitario’s participating interest will be 30% and Buenaventura interest will be 70%.

Chris Herald, President and CEO of Solitario, stated, “With this important new agreement, Solitario now has four significant joint ventures or strategic alliances with major mining companies that are structured very similarly to Net Profit Interest Royalties, clearly making us the industry leader in this segment of the royalty business. Buenaventura, besides being the largest Latin America based precious metal producer, is also considered by many in the industry to be South America’s preeminent precious metal company. As this is Buenaventura’s first significant project in Mexico, we believe it confirms our belief that the Pachuca Real property contains an exceptional array of silver-gold targets. With Buenaventura’s extensive experience in precious metal vein exploration and underground mining, we have the right partner to move this project forward.”

Project History

The Pachuca Real land package encompasses parts of the old Pachuca district, but more importantly, covers the most prospective extensions of the district to the north, northwest, and east. Prior to Solitario’s acquisition of the mineral rights, the entire land package had been held by the Mexican government from 1947 to 1990, and then sold to a private Mexican company that controlled the claims until recently. During this 58-year period only a limited amount of exploration was conducted. Solitario acquired the majority of its land position in 2006 and had previously formed a joint venture with Newmont Mining from 2006-2009. Newmont identified 38 high-quality drill targets consisting of high-grade silver-gold veins that are distributed over a geographic area measuring 20 kilometers long and ten kilometers wide. Veins in the historic district were very continuous over long distances along strike and down dip. Buenaventura has indicated that its first 18-month work program will be focused upon testing a number of these already well-defined drill targets.

About Buenaventura

Buenaventura is the largest Latin American based precious metal producer with approximately 1.3 million ounces of gold and 17.0 million ounces of silver produced in 2009. It operates seven underground mines and one open pit mine in Peru. It is also a 43.65% owner in the Minera Yanacocha gold operation, the largest gold producer in South America, and a 19.26% owner in the Cerro Verde copper mine, both in Peru. Its shares (ADR’s) trade on the NYSE under the symbol BVN and on the Lima Exchange under the symbol BUE.LM.

About Solitario

Solitario is a gold, silver, platinum-palladium, and base metal exploration and royalty company actively exploring in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Besides Buenaventura, Solitario has significant business relationships with Votorantim Metais (third largest zinc producer in the world), Anglo Platinum (largest platinum producer in the world) and Newmont Mining (second largest gold producer in the world). Solitario has approximately US$20 million in cash and marketable securities and no debt. Solitario trades on the NYSE Amex (“XPL”) and on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“SLR”). Additional information about Solitario is available online at http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.solitarioxr.com&esheet=6268599&lan=en_US&anchor=www.solitarioxr.com&index=2&md5=178aca31bcc4c09d8aa1924ceabac572

This press release includes certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results and future plans and objectives of Solitario, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Development of Solitario’s properties are subject to the success of exploration, completion and implementation of an economically viable mining plan, obtaining the necessary permits and approvals from various regulatory authorities, compliance with operating parameters established by such authorities and political risks such as higher tax and royalty rates, foreign ownership controls and our ability to finance in countries that may become politically unstable. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Solitario’s expectations are disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Solitario’s documents filed from time to time with Canadian Securities Commissions, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. This release also contains information about adjacent properties on which Solitario has no right to explore or mine. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC’s mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.

PVF Capital Corp. (PVFC) Announces Quarterly Operating Results –

SOLON, Ohio, April 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

• Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 of $1.3 million as a result of successfully completing previously announced trust preferred securities obligation cancellation resulting in pre-tax gain of $9.1 million.
• PVF Capital Corp. successfully completed $30 million shareholder rights offering, improving its tangible common equity ratio to 9.59%.
• $15 million of the offering proceeds was invested into Park View Federal Savings Bank improving its regulatory capital ratios to 8.23% tier one (core) and 12.19% total risk based, exceeding the requirements of the regulatory order.
• Linked quarter decline in nonperforming assets of 5.2%.
• Managed cost of deposits resulting in a 6 basis point expansion of net interest margin to 2.55% from 2.49% in the December 2009 quarter.
• Provision for Loan Losses of $7.0 million during the quarter resulting in an allowance for loan losses of $30.3 million or 4.76% of loans.

PVF Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:PVFC), the parent company of Park View Federal Savings Bank, announced net income of $1.3 million or $0.14 basic and $0.13 diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, as compared to a loss of $8.6 million or $1.10 basic and diluted loss per share for the prior year comparable period. Net income for the current period resulted primarily from the completion of the previously entered exchange agreement whereby the Company paid $400,000 in cash, and issued $600,000 in common stock and warrants valued at $1.0 million in exchange for the cancellation of $10.0 million of Trust Preferred Securities Obligations. This transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $9.1 million, which included the elimination of $1.1 million in accrued interest due on this debt. The quarter was highlighted by the successful completion of the shareholders’ rights offering which was oversubscribed and resulted in the raising of $30 million in new capital. The additional capital improved the Company’s tangible common equity ratio to 9.59% at March 31, 2010 from 6.16% the prior quarter.

Robert J. King, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “The completion of the trust preferred cancellation combined with the raising of $30 million in new common shares has recapitalized the Company and is a significant step forward in the turnaround plan for Park View. The participation and support of the board, management and shareholders was both critical and tremendous in raising capital in this market environment. I want to thank the shareholders, associates, customers and the community for the trust and confidence they placed in Park View throughout this process and as we continue to restore its core profitability and asset quality.”

Net Interest Margin

Net interest income was $5.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, an increase of $775,000 or 17.8% compared to $4.4 million for the same period of 2009, and was essentially unchanged from $5.1 million reported for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. The improvement compared with the prior year was fueled by significantly lower deposit costs and reflective of a slightly smaller but more profitable balance sheet. The net interest margin improved 51 basis points for the quarter to 2.55% compared with 2.04% for the prior year comparable period and improved 6 basis points compared with the prior quarter. The improvement of the margin compared with the prior year period was the result of the cost of deposits declining 122 basis points while the yield on interest-bearing assets declined only 47 basis points in this lower interest rate environment.

The slight improvement of the margin compared with the linked period was the result of reduced funding costs which were 29 basis points lower, driven by the lower re-pricing of maturing certificates of deposit. This decline in funding costs was substantially offset by an 18 basis point decline in the yield on earning assets due to the continued runoff of loans and securities not being replaced at market rates and reinvested into significantly lower yielding overnight funds.

Mr. King noted, “We are pleased with the stable net interest income and margin in light of the low interest rate environment, a shrinking loan portfolio and strongly improved liquidity position. At the same time, the Company reduced its risk profile while recapitalizing its balance sheet. We continued to make solid progress in reducing the Company’s funding cost and will look to seek opportunities to further enhance our margin. With the recapitalization complete and asset quality stabilized, we are looking forward to modest strategic loan growth and the development of new banking relationships.”

Asset Quality

The provision for loan losses of $7.0 million reflected a decrease of $8.7 million from the prior year comparable period and an increase of $4.8 million from the quarter ended December 31, 2009. It was driven largely by economic conditions in the markets in which the Company conducts its business and the ongoing review and evaluation of its loan portfolio. This assessment resulted in the Bank establishing a total allowance for loan losses of $30.3 million or 4.76% of loans at March 31, 2010, compared with $25.8 million or 3.57% of loans and $29.9 million or 4.56% of loans at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Nonperforming loans totaled $70.0 million at March 31, 2010, down $3.3 million or 4.5% from $73.3 million at December 31, 2009 and slightly lower than nonperforming loans of $70.5 million reported at June 30, 2009. The Company also had real estate owned of $11.0 million at March 31, 2010 compared with $12.1 million and $11.6 million for December 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009, respectively.

Mr. King added, “While progress was made in the resolution of problem credits during the quarter, acceleration of these results to reduce our level of nonperforming assets and problem credits remains a top priority.”

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income totaled $10.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, an increase of $6.2 million compared to the prior year comparable period. As noted above, the increase was attributable to the $9.1 million gain on the cancellation of debt. Mortgage banking activities totaled $770,000 in the current quarter which was $2.9 million lower than the prior year. The prior year period experienced a surge in mortgage refinance activity associated with the low interest rate environment resulting in higher revenue. The prior year period also included the realization of $558,000 in securities gains for which there was no corresponding amount in the current period. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, write-downs and losses on real estate owned, net, totaled $239,000 compared with $875,000 in the prior year period.

For the linked quarter ended December 31, 2009, mortgage banking activities totaled $1.5 million, which was $682,000 higher than the current quarter. The lower results in the current quarter are the result of lower mortgage volume reflective of reduced refinancing activity.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the current quarter was $6.1 million compared with $5.4 million in the same period a year ago, an increase of $700,000 or 12.9%. Lower compensation and benefits, occupancy and equipment and outside services expenses were more than offset by higher FDIC insurance premiums, which increased by $351,000, and higher expenses associated with real estate owned of $410,000. Noninterest expense compared with the linked quarter ended December 31, 2009 was essentially flat, increasing only $18,000.

Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2010, PVF Capital Corp. reported assets of $889.2 million, a decrease of $23.0 million, or 2.5%, from the prior year end period of June 30, 2009. The decline in assets was primarily attributable to lower net loans receivable which totaled $605.8 million at March 31, 2010 and was $62.7 million or 9.4% lower than the prior year end, along with fewer loans held for sale which declined $18.1 million or 66.7% due to timing differences between the funding and settlement of the warehouse mortgage portfolio coupled with lower volume. Very little new portfolio lending has occurred as the Company addresses its asset quality issues and works to reposition its balance sheet and strengthen its capital ratios. Compared with the linked quarter, total assets increased $19.9 million or 2.3% as a result of the proceeds from the rights offering.

Total deposits at March 31, 2010 were $689.6 million which was $35.4 million or 4.9% lower when compared with June 30, 2009 as the Company is not replacing its maturing brokered deposits and $6.7 million or 1.0% higher than December 31, 2009, as the Company’s retail deposits have remained stable.

Total stockholders’ equity of PVF Capital Corp. was $85.3 million at the end of the quarter and was $35.8 million higher than the prior year end primarily as a result of the completion of the shareholder rights offering coupled with the net earnings driven by the cancellation of debt.

During the quarter, PVF Capital Corp. invested $15.0 million of the $28.0 million net proceeds raised in the completed shareholder rights offering into Park View Federal. As a result, Park View Federal’s regulatory capital ratios significantly improved during the quarter and exceed the capital requirements of the order to cease and desist. Park View Federal’s tier-one (core) and risk-based capital ratios at March 31, 2010 were 8.23% and 12.19%, respectively.

Year-To-Date Results

For the nine-month period ended March 31, 2010, net income totaled $4.2 million or $0.50 basic and diluted earnings per share compared with a loss of $12.2 million or $1.57 loss per share for the same period of the prior year. The increase in earnings was primarily attributable to gains associated with the cancellation of debt which totaled $17.6 million.

Net interest income increased by $637,000 or 4.5% in the current year period as a result of lower interest expense declining more than the lower interest income as the Company managed a smaller but more profitable balance sheet. The net interest margin was 2.39% for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2010, compared with 2.24% for the same period of the prior year.

The provision for loan losses totaled $11.0 million for the nine months ending March 31, 2010, $9.0 million less than the provision of $20.0 million recorded for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2009.

In addition to the gain on the cancellation of debt noted earlier, net mortgage banking income was $1.3 million or 27.8% lower in 2010 versus 2009 as a result of the lower interest rate environment and the surge of refinancing activity in 2009. The 2009 results were negatively impacted from the inclusion of a $1.8 million charge relative to the Company’s investments in preferred stock issued by FHLMC and FNMA after these organizations were placed under conservatorship. The 2010 results included an improvement of $0.3 million related to losses on the sale or direct write-down of real estate owned compared to the prior year period, while the 2009 period included a $1.2 million gain on the sale of securities.

Noninterest expense totaled $18.4 million for the 2010 period compared with $16.4 million for the nine months of the 2009 period. Lower compensation and benefits expense of $1.0 million was more than offset by higher costs related to the utilization of outside services, FDIC insurance premiums and expenses associated with the carry of real estate owned which increased $448,000, $1.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

Park View Federal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PVF Capital Corp. and operates 17 full-service offices located throughout the Greater Cleveland area. For additional information, visit our web site at www.myparkview.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 or the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectation regarding important risk factors including, but not limited to, real estate values and the impact of interest rates on financing. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that results expressed therein will be achieved.

PVF Capital Corp.’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol PVFC.

Cosi, Inc. (COSI) Announces New Franchisee for the D. C. Market

DEERFIELD, IL — (Marketwire) — 04/27/10 — Così, Inc. (NASDAQ: COSI), the premium convenience restaurant company, today announced that it has sold thirteen restaurants in the Washington D. C. market to Capitol C Restaurants LLC (“Capitol C”) for $8.4 million. The restaurants will be operated under a franchise agreement between the parties and Capitol C has entered into a development agreement to open six additional Così restaurants in the District of Columbia. Capitol C is led by Richard Pawlowski, Principal and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Pawlowski is an experienced multi-unit restaurant operator and developer in the D. C. market.

Under the terms of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, $6.4 million of the purchase price was paid in cash at closing, $1.4 million is to be paid pursuant to a three-year note and the balance of $0.6 million is being held in escrow subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.

“We are pleased to have a franchisee of Richard’s caliber join the Così system,” said James Hyatt, Così’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “He is a seasoned operator and developer who fully understands the D. C. market. He aligns perfectly with the profile of our ideal franchisee. As we continue to operate 11 company-owned restaurants in the greater Washington D. C. area, we look forward to working together with Richard and his team to further develop the brand in this market.”

“Così is an exciting concept with delicious food, innovative menu offerings and a great casual ambience,” stated Pawlowski. “We look forward to working collaboratively with Così to expand the brand in the D. C. market.”

Mr. Hyatt further commented, “This transaction fits our strategic plan of expanding the brand by assembling experienced operators with proven abilities to develop new restaurants and providing them with quality development area opportunities. Capitol C’s joining the Così family demonstrates our ability to attract the finest quality franchisees and reinforces our conviction in the brand and its potential. In addition, this transaction will provide us with additional capital to stimulate revenue growth, support franchisee growth, selectively develop company-owned stores and otherwise enhance stockholder value.”

About Così, Inc.
Così (http://www.getcosi.com) is a national premium convenience restaurant chain that has developed featured foods built around a secret, generations-old recipe for crackly crust flatbread. This artisan bread is freshly baked in front of customers throughout the day in open flame stone hearth ovens prominently located in each of the restaurants. Così’s warm and urbane atmosphere is geared towards its sophisticated, upscale, urban and suburban guests. There are currently 99 Company-owned and 44 franchise restaurants operating in eighteen states, the District of Columbia and the United Arab Emirates. The Così vision is to become America’s favorite premium convenience restaurant by providing customers authentic, innovative, savory food while remaining an affordable luxury.

The Così menu features Così sandwiches, freshly-tossed salads, melts, soups, Così bagels, flatbread pizzas, S’mores, snacks and other desserts, and a wide range of coffee and coffee-based drinks and other specialty beverages. Così restaurants are designed to be welcoming and comfortable with an eclectic environment. Così’s sights, sounds, and spaces create a tasteful, relaxed ambience that provides a fresh and new dining experience.

“Così,” and “(Sun & Moon Design),” and related marks are registered trademarks of Così, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 Così, Inc. All rights reserved.

“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements about future events and expectations and not statements of historical fact. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “objective,” “seek,” “plan,” “strive,” or similar words, or negatives of these words, identify forward-looking statements. We qualify any forward-looking statements entirely by these cautionary factors. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future economic performance, taking into account the information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or financial condition to differ materially from the expectations of future results, performance or financial condition we express or imply in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to: the cost of our principal food products and supply and delivery shortages or interruptions; labor shortages or increased labor costs; changes in consumer preferences and demographic trends; expansion into new markets including foreign markets; our ability to locate suitable restaurant sites in new and existing markets and negotiate acceptable lease terms; competition in our markets, both in our business and in locating suitable restaurant sites; our operation and execution in new and existing markets; our ability to recruit, train and retain qualified corporate and restaurant personnel and management; cost effective and timely planning, design and build-out of restaurants; our ability to attract and retain qualified franchisees; the availability and cost of additional financing, both to fund our existing operations and to open new restaurants; the rate of our internal growth and our ability to generate increased revenue from our existing restaurants; our ability to generate positive cash flow from existing and new restaurants; the reliability of our customer and market studies; fluctuations in our quarterly results due to seasonality; increased government regulation and our ability to secure required governmental approvals and permits; our ability to create customer awareness of our restaurants in new markets; market saturation due to new restaurant openings; inadequate protection of our intellectual property; adverse weather conditions which impact customer traffic at our restaurants and adverse economic conditions. Further information regarding factors that could affect our results and the statements made herein are included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BioCryst (BCRX) Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Apr. 28, 2010 (Business Wire) — BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCRX) today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, total revenues increased to $26.1 million compared to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. This $21.7 million increase was driven primarily by the recognition of a $7.0 million milestone payment from the Company’s partner, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Shionogi), related to its achievement in obtaining marketing and manufacturing approval of intravenous (i.v.) peramivir in Japan, a $7.0 million increase in revenue from the contract with the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for the continued development of i.v. peramivir as compared to last year, as well as the sale of $6.4 million of peramivir active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to collaborators Shionogi and Green Cross Corporation. In accordance with the license agreement with Shionogi, BioCryst also recorded revenue from royalties of $0.7 million related to Shionogi’s sales of RAPIACTA^® (peramivir) in Japan during the first quarter of 2010.

Research and development (R&D) expenses increased to $24.9 million for the first quarter of 2010 from $11.3 million in the same period of last year. The higher R&D expenses resulted primarily from a $4.9 million increase in clinical development costs associated with our peramivir program and $6.3 million of manufacturing costs associated with peramivir API production for Shionogi and Green Cross. During the current quarter, BioCryst also continued to incur expenses related to its ongoing studies of forodesine for the treatment in lymphoma and of BCX4208 for the treatment of gout.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses increased to $3.8 million for the first quarter of 2010 from $2.5 million for the first quarter of 2009. This increase was primarily due to higher consulting costs and operating expenses.

The Company’s net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $2.6 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to a net loss of $9.3 million, or $0.24 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

As of March 31, 2010, the Company held cash, cash equivalents and securities of $89.4 million, a decrease of $4.8 million compared to December 31, 2009.

For 2010, BioCryst continues to expect cash use to be between $25 and $30 million. Cash use will vary depending on clinical outcomes.

“This quarter marked major milestones in the transformation of BioCryst—the first commercial launch of a BioCryst discovered product in any country, the final peramivir regulatory milestone payment and first royalty payment from Shionogi from the initial sales of RAPIACTA^® in Japan,” said Jon P. Stonehouse, President and Chief Executive Officer of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. “Additionally, we continue to advance BioCryst’s pipeline, as demonstrated by the rapid progress and positive outcome of the BCX4208 gout clinical data announced today. We remain on course towards building an enduring and successful biopharmaceutical company.”

Recent Program Highlights

Peramivir Program

• The Phase 3 development program of i.v. peramivir is ongoing. Investigator sites in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Peru and South Africa have recently been added to prepare for enrollment of hospitalized influenza patients during the upcoming Southern Hemisphere flu season, which typically starts in May or June.
• Additional studies to provide further evidence of efficacy are under discussion with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and HHS.

Forodesine Program

• The pivotal Phase 2 study for forodesine in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) achieved its protocol-specified objective of enrolling 100 late-stage patients (Stage IIB to IVA). The Company expects to report data from the study in the second half of 2010.
• The Phase 2 single-arm, open-label study evaluating 200 mg of forodesine twice-daily in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has reached its enrollment target of 26 patients and is ongoing. The Company expects to report data from this study in the second half of 2010.

BCX4208 Program

• In a separate press release issued today, BioCryst reported positive results from a planned interim analysis of its ongoing randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCX4208 in patients with gout. All three oral, once-daily doses of BCX4208 studied achieved a statistically significant reduction in serum uric acid levels from baseline compared to placebo at day 22. BCX4208 was generally safe and well-tolerated at the doses evaluated in this study.
• BioCryst is finalizing plans for an additional blinded Phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCX4208 as monotherapy and in combination with allopurinol, another urate-lowering treatment for gout. The Company intends to complete this study by the end of 2010.

Conference Call and Web Cast

BioCryst’s management team will host a conference call and Web cast on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these financial results and recent corporate developments. To participate in the conference call, please dial 1-877-303-8027 (United States) or 1-760-536-5165 (International). No passcode is needed for the call. The Web cast can be accessed by logging onto http://www.biocryst.com. Please connect to the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.

About BioCryst

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals designs, optimizes and develops novel small-molecule pharmaceuticals that block key enzymes involved in infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases. BioCryst has progressed two novel compounds that are in late-stage pivotal clinical trials; peramivir, an anti-viral for influenza, and forodesine, a purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Additionally, BioCryst has a third product candidate, BCX4208—a next generation PNP inhibitor—in mid-stage trials for the treatment of gout. Utilizing crystallography and structure-based drug design, BioCryst continues to discover additional compounds and to progress others through pre-clinical and early development to address the unmet medical needs of patients and physicians. For more information, please visit the Company’s Web site at www.biocryst.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future results, performance or achievements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein include: that to the extent peramivir is used as a treatment for H1N1 flu (or other strains of flu), there can be no assurance that it will prove effective; that HHS may further condition, reduce or eliminate future funding of the peramivir program; that ongoing peramivir clinical trials or our peramivir program in general may not be successful; that the pivotal trial with forodesine in CTCL may not meet its endpoint; that development and commercialization of forodesine in CTCL may not be successful; that ongoing and future pre-clinical and clinical development of BCX4208 may not have positive results; that we or our licensees may not be able to enroll the required number of subjects in planned clinical trials of our product candidates and that such clinical trials may not be successfully completed; that BioCryst or its licensees may not commence as expected additional human clinical trials with our product candidates; that our product candidates may not receive required regulatory clearances from the FDA; that ongoing and future pre-clinical and clinical development may not have positive results; that we or our licensees may not be able to continue future development of our current and future development programs; that our development programs may never result in future product, license or royalty payments being received by BioCryst; that BioCryst may not be able to retain its current pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for further development of its product candidates or it may not reach favorable agreements with potential pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for further development of its product candidates; that our actual cash burn rate may not be consistent with our expectations; that BioCryst may not have sufficient cash to continue funding the development, manufacturing, marketing or distribution of its products and that additional funding, if necessary, may not be available at all or on terms acceptable to BioCryst. Please refer to the documents BioCryst files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically BioCryst’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, all of which identify important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections and forward-looking statements.

BCRXW

Leading Brands, Inc. (LBIX) Announces Results for Its 2009 Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 2010

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:LBIX),North America’s only fully integrated healthy branded beverage company, announces results for its 2009 fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. All financial amounts are denominated in Canadian dollars.

Net income for the year was $1,178,000 ($0.30 per share) compared to a net loss of $5,667,000 ($1.42 per share, including write downs of intangible assets of $3,354,000) in fiscal 2008 (see below). That dramatic improvement in financial performance is a direct consequence of increasing gross margin in concert with reductions in fixed overheads and SG&A expenses.

Gross profit margin for the year was 44.9%, up from 32.4% in fiscal 2008.

Gross revenue for the year was $22,173,000, versus $32,498,000 last year, a decrease of 31.8%.   The decline in revenues is directly attributable to the Company’s decision to no longer distribute its low margin food and beverage products and instead focus on higher margin, fiscally sustainable, branded beverage sales. The Company ceased its food distribution business in mid-Q1 of fiscal 2009.

Discounts, rebates and slotting fees were reduced significantly to $1,646,000 from $4,302,000 the prior year. Non-cash stock based compensation expense for the year was $249,000. SG&A expenses were $6,355,000, down 35.7% from $9,892,000 the previous year. The Company also recorded non-cash income tax expense of $735,000 during the year.

As at February 28, 2010, the Company had only 3,923,275 shares outstanding and cash and available credit of $3,340,000. Cash flow from operations for the year was $4,433,000.

Gross revenue for Q4 of fiscal 2009 was $4,982,000, generating a net income of $100,000. This is the first time in its history that the Company has recorded net income in its last, and seasonally slowest, quarter. The Company also recorded non-cash income taxes of $119,000 in Q4.

In conjunction with the ongoing review of its financial statements, the Company has determined to write off the goodwill on its balance sheet as at February 28, 2009, due to its low market capitalization on that date. That transaction has no impact on the Company’s earnings for its 2009 fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, which are reported here, or on its tangible net worth.

About Leading Brands, Inc.

Leading Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:LBIX) is North America’s only fully integrated healthy beverage company. Leading Brands creates, designs, bottles, distributes and markets its own proprietary premium beverage brands such as TrueBlue^® Blueberry Juice, LiteBlue^® Blueberry Juice, PureBlue^®, PureRed^®, PureBlack^® SuperJuices and Caesar’s^® Cocktails via its unique Integrated Distribution System (IDS)™ which involves the Company finding the best and most cost-effective route to market. The Company strives to use the best natural ingredients hence its mantra: Better Ingredients – Better Brands.

The Leading Brands, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2681

Non-GAAP Measures

Any non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release includes forward-looking statements. Words such as “believe”, “expect,” “will,” or comparable terms, are intended to identify forward-looking statements concerning the Company’s expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, objectives, future events or performance and other developments. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. Such statements speak only as of the date hereof. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s estimations and projections are disclosed in the Company’s securities filings and include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions, weather conditions, changing beverage consumption trends, pricing, availability of raw materials, economic uncertainties (including currency exchange rates), government regulation, managing and maintaining growth, the effect of adverse publicity, litigation, competition and other risk factors described from time to time in securities reports filed by Leading Brands, Inc.

Better Ingredients | Better Brands™

©2010 Leading Brands, Inc.

This news release is available at www.LBIX.com

II-VI Inc. (IIVI) Reports Record Bookings and Revenues

PITTSBURGH, April 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — II-VI Incorporated (Nasdaq:IIVI) today reported results for its third quarter ended March 31, 2010.

On January 4, 2010, the Company completed its acquisition of Photop Technologies, Inc. (Photop). The initial consideration consisted of cash of $45.6 million and 1,145,852 shares of II-VI Incorporated common stock. In addition, the purchase agreement provided up to $12.0 million of additional cash earn-out opportunities based upon Photop achieving certain agreed-upon financial targets in calendar years 2010 and 2011. Company results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2010 include three months of Photop operating results as well as acquisition-related expenses.

Bookings from continuing operations for the quarter increased 77% to a record $109,963,000 compared to $62,252,000 in the third quarter of last fiscal year. Bookings from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 increased 28% to $261,610,000 from $203,884,000 for the same period last fiscal year. Included in bookings for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2010 were approximately $26.5 million of bookings attributable to Photop. Bookings are defined as customer orders received that are expected to be converted into revenues during the next 12 months.

Revenues from continuing operations for the quarter increased 52% to a record $97,531,000 from $64,111,000 in the third quarter of last fiscal year.  Revenues from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 increased 3% to $231,854,000 from $226,155,000 for the same period last fiscal year. Included in revenues for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2010 were approximately $20.2 million of revenues attributable to Photop.

Net earnings attributable to II-VI Incorporated for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $10,313,000 or $0.33 per share-diluted compared with net earnings attributable to II-VI Incorporated of $4,810,000 or $0.16 per share-diluted in the third quarter of last fiscal year. Net earnings attributable to II-VI Incorporated for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 were $22,600,000 or $0.74 per share-diluted compared with net earnings attributable to II-VI Incorporated of $30,664,000 or $1.02 per share-diluted for the same period last fiscal year.

Francis J. Kramer, president and chief executive officer said, “We experienced strong customer demand across almost all our markets during the quarter. Infrared Optics demand was especially robust as bookings increased 69% from the same quarter last fiscal year and 17% from the December 31, 2009 quarter. For the third consecutive quarter total company bookings outpaced revenues. As a result, our order backlog was $144 million at March 31, 2010; of that amount, Photop contributed $17 million. Overall, our backlog is up 40% since June 30, 2009.”

Kramer continued, “During the quarter, we also completed the acquisition of Photop, which had a positive contribution to our record bookings and revenues. Photop’s operational and financial results exceeded our expectations for the quarter and, due to improved strength and visibility in the telecommunications markets they serve, we have increased our outlook for Photop’s revenue contribution for the quarter ending June 30, 2010. Our Military and Materials group continues to produce solid revenues and earnings.”

Kramer concluded, “Quarterly EBITDA performance and cash flow generation exceeded our expectations. EBITDA for the quarter was up 65% from the same quarter last fiscal year and 82% from the December 31, 2009 quarter. Our cash balance now exceeds the June 30, 2009 level and we expect cash to continue to increase as we complete the final quarter of fiscal year 2010. Because of current market strength and visibility, we are confident in increasing our guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year.”

Effective July 1, 2009, the Company adopted Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No.51, which was retroactively applied to all periods presented. As announced on June 12, 2009, the Company sold its x-ray and gamma-ray radiation sensor business, eV PRODUCTS, Inc., which operated as a business within the Compound Semiconductor Group. Results for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2009 reflect the presentation of eV PRODUCTS as a discontinued operation.

Segment Information from Continuing Operations ($000’s)

The following segment information includes segment earnings from continuing operations (defined as earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, interest expense and other expense or income, net). Management believes segment earnings are a useful performance measure because they reflect the results of segment performance over which management has direct control.

Outlook

For the fourth fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2010, the Company currently forecasts revenues to range from $98.0 million to $102.0 million and earnings per share attributable to II-VI Incorporated to range from $0.34 to $0.38. Comparable results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 were revenues from continuing operations of $66.1 million and earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.21. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the Company expects revenues to range from $330 million to $334 million and earnings per share to range from $1.08 to $1.12. Comparable results for the year ended June 30, 2009 were revenues from continuing operations of $292 million and earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.29. As discussed in more detail below, actual results may differ from these forecasts due to various factors including, but not limited to, changes in product demand, competition and general economic conditions.

Webcast Information

The Company will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 to discuss these results. The conference call will be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed by all interested parties from the Company’s web site at www.ii-vi.com as well as at http://tinyurl.com/y7xvj9c. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and, if needed, to download the media software required to listen to the internet broadcast. A replay of the webcast will be available for 2 weeks following the call.

About II-VI Incorporated

II-VI Incorporated, the worldwide leader in crystal growth technology, is a vertically-integrated manufacturing company that creates and markets products for a diversified customer base including industrial manufacturing, military and aerospace, high-power electronics and telecommunications, and thermoelectronics applications. Headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, with manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities worldwide, the Company produces numerous crystalline compounds including zinc selenide for infrared laser optics, silicon carbide for high-power electronic and microwave applications, and bismuth telluride for thermoelectric coolers.

In the Company’s infrared optics business, II-VI Infrared manufactures optical and opto-electronic components for industrial laser and thermal imaging systems, and HIGHYAG Lasertechnologie GmbH (HIGHYAG) manufactures fiber-delivered beam delivery systems and processing tools for industrial lasers. In the Company’s near-infrared optics business, VLOC manufactures near-infrared and visible light products for industrial, scientific, military and medical instruments and laser gain materials and products for solid-state YAG and YLF lasers.  Photop Technologies, Inc. (Photop) manufactures crystal materials, optics, microchip lasers and opto-electronic modules for use in optical communication networks and other diverse consumer and commercial applications. In the Company’s military & materials business, Exotic Electro-Optics (EEO) manufactures infrared products for military applications, and Pacific Rare Specialty Metals & Chemicals (PRM) produces and refines selenium and tellurium materials. In the Company’s Compound Semiconductor Group, the Wide Bandgap Materials (WBG) group manufactures and markets single crystal silicon carbide substrates for use in the solid-state lighting, wireless infrastructure, RF electronics and power switching industries; Marlow Industries, Inc. (Marlow) designs and manufactures thermoelectric cooling and power generation solutions for use in defense, space, photonics, telecommunications, medical, consumer and industrial markets; and the Worldwide Materials Group (WMG) provides expertise in materials development, process development and manufacturing scale up.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and contingencies that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to the Company’s performance on a going-forward basis.

The forward-looking statements in this press release involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results, performance or trends to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures. The Company believes that all forward-looking statements made by it have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs or projections as expressed in the forward-looking statements will actually occur or prove to be correct. In addition to general industry and global economic conditions, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure of any one or more of the assumptions stated above to prove to be correct; (ii) the risks relating to forward-looking statements and other “Risk Factors” discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009; (iii) the purchasing patterns from customers and end-users; (iv) the timely release of new products, and acceptance of such new products by the market; (v) the introduction of new products by competitors and other competitive responses; and/or (vi) the Company’s ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions.

Rent-A-Center, Inc. (RCII) Reports First Quarter 2010 Results

Apr. 26, 2010 (Business Wire) — Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII), the nation’s largest rent-to-own operator, today announced revenues and earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

First Quarter 2010 Results

Total revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $718.4 million, a decrease of $9.8 million from total revenues of $728.2 million for the same period in the prior year. This decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to the November 2009 divestiture of our subsidiary engaged in the prepaid telecommunications and energy business, which had contributed approximately $14.0 million in merchandise sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Same store sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were down 0.5%.

Net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $51.5 million and $0.77, respectively, as compared to $45.4 million and $0.68, respectively, for the same period in the prior year. Net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 increased as a result of $3.0 million in pre-tax litigation credits, or approximately $0.03 per share, related to the Hilda Perez matter as discussed below.

Net earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $0.77, as compared to adjusted net earnings per diluted share of $0.65, when excluding the pre-tax litigation credit above, for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, an increase of 18.5%.

“We are pleased to report another quarter of outstanding results, as we exceeded our total revenues and earnings guidance,” commented Mark E. Speese, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “This was primarily due to continued strong customer demand while maintaining a strong cost discipline,” Speese stated. “Due to the strong trends in our customer traffic, our continued focus on the customer’s in-store experience as well as our expense management initiatives,” continued Mr. Speese, “we are pleased to announce increased earnings expectations for 2010 of between $2.60 and $2.80 per diluted share for 2010.”

Through the three month period ended March 31, 2010, the Company generated cash flow from operations of approximately $71.9 million, while ending the quarter with approximately $84.5 million of cash on hand. In addition, during the three month period ended March 31, 2010, the Company reduced its outstanding indebtedness by approximately $74.9 million, which consisted of approximately $6.4 million in mandatory payments as well as previously outstanding amounts of approximately $68.5 million under its revolving lines of credit as of December 31, 2009.

Operations Highlights

During the three month period ended March 31, 2010, the company-owned stores and financial services locations changed as follows:

Since March 31, 2010, the Company has added financial services to three existing rent-to-own store locations.

2009 Significant Item

Hilda Perez Matter. In connection with the court approved settlement of the Hilda Perez v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. matter in New Jersey, the Company previously recorded during the first quarter of 2009 a pre-tax credit in the amount of $3.0 million to account for cash payments to the Company representing undistributed monies in the settlement fund to which the Company is entitled pursuant to the terms of the settlement, as well as a refund of costs to administer the settlement previously paid by the Company which were not expended during the administration of the settlement. The $3.0 million pre-tax litigation credit increased net earnings per diluted share for the three month period ended March 31, 2009 by approximately $0.03.

Rent-A-Center, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter results, guidance and other operational matters on Tuesday morning, April 27, 2010, at 10:45 a.m. EDT. For a live webcast of the call, visit http://investor.rentacenter.com. Certain financial and other statistical information that will be discussed during the conference call will also be provided on the same website.

Rent-A-Center, Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas, currently operates approximately 3,000 company-owned stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico. The stores generally offer high-quality, durable goods such as major consumer electronics, appliances, computers and furniture and accessories under flexible rental purchase agreements that generally allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed upon rental period. ColorTyme, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchiser of approximately 210 rent-to-own stores operating under the trade name of “ColorTyme.”

The following statements are based on current expectations. These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. These statements do not include the potential impact of any repurchases of common stock the Company may make, changes in outstanding indebtedness, or the potential impact of acquisitions or dispositions that may be completed after April 26, 2010.

SECOND QUARTER 2010 GUIDANCE:

Revenues

• The Company expects total revenues to be in the range of $670 million to $685 million.
• Store rental and fee revenues are expected to be between $588 million and $598 million.
• Total store revenues are expected to be in the range of $662 million to $677 million.
• Same store sales are expected to be approximately 1.0%.
• The Company expects to open 5 to 10 new company-owned store locations.
• The Company expects to add financial services to approximately 20 rent-to-own store locations.

Expenses

• The Company expects cost of rental and fees to be between 22.1% and 22.5% of store rental and fee revenue and cost of merchandise sold to be between 73% and 77% of store merchandise sales.
• Store salaries and other expenses are expected to be in the range of 57.2% to 58.7% of total store revenue.
• General and administrative expenses are expected to be approximately 4.8% of total revenue.
• Net interest expense is expected to be approximately $6 million and depreciation of property assets is expected to be approximately $16 million.
• The effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 37.5% to 38.0% of pre-tax income.
• Diluted earnings per share are estimated to be in the range of $0.64 to $0.70.
• Diluted shares outstanding are estimated to be between 66.4 million and 67.2 million.

FISCAL 2010 GUIDANCE:

Revenues

• The Company expects total revenues to be in the range of $2.725 billion and $2.780 billion.
• Store rental and fee revenues are expected to be between $2.335 billion and $2.380 billion.
• Total store revenues are expected to be in the range of $2.693 billion and $2.748 billion.
• Same store sales are expected to be in the 1.0% to 2.0% range.
• The Company expects to open 25 to 35 new company-owned store locations.
• The Company expects to add financial services to approximately 70 rent-to-own store locations.

Expenses

• The Company expects cost of rental and fees to be between 22.2% and 22.6% of store rental and fee revenue and cost of merchandise sold to be between 72% and 76% of store merchandise sales.
• Store salaries and other expenses are expected to be in the range of 56.7% to 58.2% of total store revenue.
• General and administrative expenses are expected to be approximately 4.6% of total revenue.
• Net interest expense is expected to be approximately $25 million and depreciation of property assets is expected to be approximately $64 million.
• The effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 37.5% to 38.0% of pre-tax income.
• Diluted earnings per share are estimated to be in the range of $2.60 to $2.80.
• Diluted shares outstanding are estimated to be between 66.5 million and 67.3 million.

This press release and the guidance above contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate,” “should,” “anticipate,” or “believe,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The actual future performance of the Company could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: uncertainties regarding the ability to open new rent-to-own stores; the Company’s ability to acquire additional rent-to-own stores or customer accounts on favorable terms; the Company’s ability to control costs and increase profitability; the Company’s ability to successfully add financial services locations within its existing rent-to-own stores; the Company’s ability to identify and successfully enter new lines of business offering products and services that appeal to its customer demographic; the Company’s ability to enhance the performance of acquired stores; the Company’s ability to retain the revenue associated with acquired customer accounts; the Company’s ability to identify and successfully market products and services that appeal to its customer demographic; the Company’s ability to enter into new and collect on its rental purchase agreements; the Company’s ability to enter into new and collect on its short-term loans; the passage of legislation adversely affecting the rent-to-own or financial services industries; the Company’s failure to comply with statutes or regulations governing the rent-to-own or financial services industries; interest rates; increases in the unemployment rate; economic pressures, such as high fuel and utility costs, affecting the disposable income available to the Company’s targeted consumers; changes in the Company’s stock price and the number of shares of common stock that it may or may not repurchase; changes in estimates relating to self-insurance liabilities and income tax and litigation reserves; changes in the Company’s effective tax rate; the Company’s ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; changes in the number of share-based compensation grants, methods used to value future share-based payments and changes in estimated forfeiture rates with respect to share-based compensation; the resolution of material litigation; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect the events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

(1) Includes the effects of $3.0 million pre-tax litigation credit in the first quarter of 2009 related to the Hilda Perez matter. The litigation credit increased diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.03 for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BSPM) Receives New Advertising Approval from Shaanxi SFDA

XIANYANG, China, April 27 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ — Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BSPM) (“Biostar” or “the Company”), the Xianyang-based manufacturer of a leading over-the-counter Hepatitis B medicine, Xin Aoxing Oleanolic Acid Capsule (“Xin Aoxing”), and other pharmaceutical products, announced today it has received new advertising approval from Shaanxi State Food and Drug Administration (“SFDA”) for marketing Xin Aoxing Oleanolic Acid Capsules (“Xin Aoxing”).

On April 22, 2010 the Shaanxi SFDA published on its website a notification stating that the marketing language used in connection with several pharmaceutical products sold in the province are not within approved parameters. Biostar Pharmaceuticals’ flagship Hepatitis B medicine Xin Aoxing was included in that notification which cited Xin Aoxing for non-compliance of pre-approved adverting content, use of patient images to denote product efficiency, and use of absolute language to suggest efficacy.

The Company has made proper modifications to its sales and marketing materials and has accordingly received a new advertising approval for its Xin Aoxing from the Shaanxi SFDA on April 27, 2010.

The notification has not disrupted production or sales of Xin Aoxing and is not expected to have any impact on previously announced fiscal 2010 revenue and net income guidance.

About Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary in China, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for a variety of diseases and conditions. The Company’s most popular product is its Xin Ao Xing Oleanolic Acid Capsule, an over-the-counter (“OTC”) medicine for chronic hepatitis B, a disease affecting approximately 10% of the Chinese population. In addition to its hepatitis product, Biostar currently manufactures two broad-based OTC products and two prescription-based pharmaceuticals. The Company has adopted international standards, holds one patent and is in the process of applying for two patents.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the success of our investments, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, our ability to sustain our previous levels of profitability including on account of our ability to manage growth, intense competition, wage increases in China, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts and legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside China. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our S-1 dated June 27, 2008, our 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and other recent filings. These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov . We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on our behalf.

Cirrus Logic (CRUS) Reports Annual Revenue Growth of 27 Percent

Apr. 27, 2010 (Business Wire) — Cirrus Logic, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRUS), a leader in high-precision analog and digital signal processing components, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2010, which ended March 27, 2010.

Revenue for the quarter was $62.6 million, up 87 percent compared to $33.5 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 and down slightly from $65.2 million in the previous quarter. Revenue for fiscal year 2010 totaled $221 million, a 27 percent increase compared to $174.6 million in fiscal year 2009. Gross margin for the quarter was 56 percent, up from 55 percent in the fourth quarter a year ago and up from 54 percent for the previous quarter. Gross margin for fiscal year 2010 was 54 percent compared to 56 percent in fiscal year 2009.

Total GAAP operating expenses for the quarter were approximately $27 million, up from $24 million in the previous quarter. Research and Development (R&D) investment for the quarter was $13.7 million, and Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $12.7 million. These expenses include charges of $1.1 million for stock-based compensation and $400,000 in acquisition-related amortization of intangibles. Additionally, the company recognized a separate facilities restructuring charge of $600,000. Income from operations on a GAAP basis was approximately $8.3 million, or a 13 percent operating margin.

Non-GAAP operating expenses for the quarter were approximately $24.9 million, compared to $22.9 million for the December quarter, with non-GAAP income from operations of $10.5 million, or a 17 percent operating margin.

GAAP net income for the quarter was approximately $20.4 million or $0.31 per share based on 66.6 million average diluted shares outstanding. This income includes the realization of a deferred tax asset of approximately $11.8 million. Excluding the items noted previously, as well as the credit for the deferred tax asset, non-GAAP net income was $10.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share.

“Fiscal 2010 was an outstanding year for Cirrus Logic as we grew annual revenue by 27 percent and made significant progress toward our operating profit goal,” said Jason Rhode, president and chief executive officer, Cirrus Logic. “Our lineup of new products allows us to expand our business with our current customers, and also opens up opportunities with new customers. As our Q1 guidance implies, we expect that Fiscal 2011 will be an even stronger year for Cirrus.”

Outlook for First Quarter FY 2011 (ending June 26, 2010):

• Revenue is expected to range between $78 million and $84 million;
• Gross margin is expected to be between 54 percent and 56 percent; and
• Combined R&D and SG&A expenses are expected to range between $27 million and $29 million, which include approximately $1.7 million in share-based compensation and amortization of acquisition-related intangibles expenses.

Conference Call

Cirrus Logic management will hold a conference call to discuss the company’s results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2010, on April 27, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Those wishing to join should call 480-629-9723, or toll-free at 877-941-2333 (Conference ID: 4281912) by 10:20 a.m. on April 27, 2010. A replay of the conference call will also be available beginning one hour after the completion of the call, until May 4, 2010. To access the recording, dial 303-590-3030, or toll-free at 800-406-7325 (Conference ID: 4281912). A live and an archived webcast of the conference call will also be available via the Investor section of the company’s website at www.cirrus.com.

Shareholders who would like to submit a question to be addressed during the call are requested to submit the question to investor.relations@cirrus.com.

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Cirrus Logic develops high-precision, analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for a broad range of innovative customers. Building on its diverse analog and signal-processing patent portfolio, Cirrus Logic delivers highly optimized products for a variety of audio and energy-related applications. The company operates from headquarters in Austin, Texas, with offices in Tucson, Ariz., Europe, Japan and Asia. More information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com.

Use of non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement Cirrus Logic’s financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, Cirrus has provided non-GAAP financial information, including non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. A reconciliation of the adjustments to GAAP results is included in the tables below. Non-GAAP financial information is not meant as a substitute for GAAP results, but is included because management believes such information is useful to our investors for informational and comparative purposes. In addition, certain non-GAAP financial information is used internally by management to evaluate and manage the company. As a note, the non-GAAP financial information used by Cirrus Logic may differ from that used by other companies. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release contain forward-looking statements, including our estimates of first quarter fiscal year 2011 revenue, year-over-year revenue growth, gross margin, combined research and development and selling, general and administrative expense levels, share-based compensation expense, and amortization of acquired intangible expenses. In some cases, forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “project,” “believe,” “goals,” “opportunity,” “estimates,” “intend,” and variations of these types of words and similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to our plans, expectations, strategies or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: overall economic pressures and general market and economic conditions; overall conditions in the semiconductor market; the level of orders and shipments during the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, as well as customer cancellations of orders, or the failure to place orders consistent with forecasts; the loss of a key customer; pricing pressures; and the risk factors listed in our Form 10-K for the year ended March 28, 2009, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov. The foregoing information concerning our business outlook represents our outlook as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new developments or otherwise.

Cirrus Logic and Cirrus are trademarks of Cirrus Logic Inc.

Summary financial data follows: