America Emerges as the Innovation Leader in Latest Investors in Innovation Survey

NEW YORK, NY, Apr 20 (MARKET WIRE) --
Global public relations agency Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) today
released the results of its second Investors in Innovation survey. Based
on 130 responses from a global sample of money managers and analysts, the
survey revealed the financial community's perceptions of key innovation
and business issues facing capital markets and corporate decision-makers.

"Despite recent speculation about the decline of American innovation and
the country's global competitiveness, respondents clearly see the U.S. as
the most likely country of the seven countries included in the survey to
produce the next major wave of economically stimulative innovations," said
Lev Janashvili, WE vice president, Financial Communications, and lead
author of the survey. "It is also noteworthy that 62 percent of
respondents expect the current recession to end in 2010."

Key Findings on Innovation

-- America emerges as the innovation leader. Seventy-four percent of
respondents rate America's innovation potential as strong or very strong,
the highest rating among the seven countries included in the survey.

-- Alternative energy and technology are expected to drive innovation.
Eighty-two percent of respondents rated the innovation potential of the
technology sector as strong or very strong. Seventy-nine percent of
respondents assigned the same ratings to alternative energy.

-- The Obama administration received its highest ratings (58 percent
positive) for "facilitating the broader adoption and development of clean
energy technologies." Obama gets his lowest ratings for his efforts to
stabilize the banking system.

-- Innovation ranks as the third most important nonfinancial variable
affecting investment decisions, behind management credibility and
transparency.

Key Findings on Business Issues

-- Measures of management effectiveness (e.g., ROIC and ROE) received
highest importance ratings among financial variables that affect investment
decisions.

-- Respondents rated management credibility as the most important
nonfinancial variable affecting investment decisions, followed by
transparency, innovation and corporate governance.

-- Sixty percent of respondents favor restrictions on short selling.

-- Survey responses reveal marked reticence about the new Securities and
Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro. Only 22 percent of the
respondents could say whether they held a favorable or unfavorable view of
the new chief securities regulator.

-- Fifty-nine percent of respondents favor mark-to-market accounting
rules over mark-to-model methods.

-- Respondents overwhelmingly expect oil and gas prices to stabilize or
increase in 2009, and certainly in the long run.

Janashvili continued: "With regard to the relatively poor ratings of
the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the banking system, we
should note that these responses diverge measurably from consumer
perceptions. In a nationwide U.S. consumer poll conducted by WE and RT
Strategies in March, 67 percent of the respondents expressed favorable
views of President Obama's efforts to address the current financial
crisis."

He added, "The support for mark-to-market rules and for restrictions on
short selling is interesting in that it seems to reveal a tension between
two conflicting motives: 1) aligning corporate valuations with economic
reality and 2) providing a near-term boost to the market."

The Investors in Innovation surveys are designed to identify and
prioritize the issues and perceptions that shape the thinking of senior
decision-makers in the corporate and investment communities. Based on
surveys of key stakeholders across innovation-driven industries, these
reports combine the findings of financial community surveys, in-depth
interviews with industry thought leaders and WE's proprietary analysis of
industry-focused media coverage.

About Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) is a global, integrated communications
agency. For more than 25 years, the independently owned firm has developed
strategic communications programs for innovative and world-changing
clients, working to influence markets, inspire people and improve lives.
In 2009, WE was named one of Oregon Business' 100 Best Companies to Work
For. WE was also named European Technology Agency of the Year in 2008 and
Best Large Agency to Work For by the Holmes Report in 2006. WE has earned
numerous honors for its outstanding work on behalf of clients, for its
exceptional people and for its innovation in communications. The agency
has more than 800 employees in 16 offices around the world, and its Global
Alliance program expands the agency's reach to 13 additional international
markets. WE offers six global practices: Consumer Marketing, Corporate
Communications, Environment, Healthcare, Public Affairs and Technology.
More information can be found at http://www.WaggenerEdstrom.com.

Waggener Edstrom and Innovation Communications are either registered
service marks or service marks of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Inc. in the
United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and
products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective
owners.

To receive the Investors in Innovation report, please contact:
Jennifer Casey
(503) 443-7229
Email Contact

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