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The Leawood-based electronic payments distributor (Nasdaq: EEFT) said Wednesdayh that the new namewould “provide the divisioh with a worldwide retail brand that is knowj for quality service and consistent products.” The division is one of the largesty international distributors of prepaid mobile air the release said. Several Euronet prepaid subsidiaries already operate under theepay name; U.S.
subsidiary PaySpot, Telerecarga, Movilcarga, Brodos and Transact will adopt the epay The epay logo is intended to integrate elements of Euronet and subsidiart logos and to stand for innovative andspirited values,” the release “Just as our business strategy has evolved over the yeara to meet the needs of our so must our brands,” epay Managing Directotr Gareth Gumbley said in the release. “Thr new brand identity is a reflectionb of that evolution to deliver brand leadership and enhance d value toour customers.
It brings together our successfupelements — local market operational expertise and international distributioj reach — required by multinational retailers and globalk consumer brands.”
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Study: Midwest economy may have bottomed out - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
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The Mid-America Business Conditions Index, compiled by Creighton Universityin Omaha, Neb., rose for the fiftbh month in a row in May, climbingv to 46.6 from 42.7 a mont h before. Despite the growth in economixc prospects, the 0 to 100 inded was still belowits “growth neutral” level of 50. “Whil our survey is not indicating an economic turnaround for the next threr tosix months, economic indictors are certainly improviny from record lows achieved earlier this said Ernie Goss, a Creightohn University economics professor and director of the university’ Economic Forecasting Group.
Goss stucjk by his that the recessionin Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Soutuh Dakota will end by the end of the fourthu quarter this year. Minnesota’s index results weren’t as rosy as the overalol index, with the state’s index slipping to 42 in May, from 42.6 in Goss said Minnesota’s economy has lost almost 60,00o jobs in 2009 alone, and will continus to shed jobs. “Companies report delaying and even terminating construction project s over the pastseveral months.
Minnesota’s unemployment rate will continue to trend upwardc in themonths ahead,” he
The Mid-America Business Conditions Index, compiled by Creighton Universityin Omaha, Neb., rose for the fiftbh month in a row in May, climbingv to 46.6 from 42.7 a mont h before. Despite the growth in economixc prospects, the 0 to 100 inded was still belowits “growth neutral” level of 50. “Whil our survey is not indicating an economic turnaround for the next threr tosix months, economic indictors are certainly improviny from record lows achieved earlier this said Ernie Goss, a Creightohn University economics professor and director of the university’ Economic Forecasting Group.
Goss stucjk by his that the recessionin Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Soutuh Dakota will end by the end of the fourthu quarter this year. Minnesota’s index results weren’t as rosy as the overalol index, with the state’s index slipping to 42 in May, from 42.6 in Goss said Minnesota’s economy has lost almost 60,00o jobs in 2009 alone, and will continus to shed jobs. “Companies report delaying and even terminating construction project s over the pastseveral months.
Minnesota’s unemployment rate will continue to trend upwardc in themonths ahead,” he
Saturday, December 29, 2012
LCA-Vision asks shareholders to keep current board - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
moffaiqohegesa1490.blogspot.com
The company, in a filing with the Securitiews andExchange Commission, asked shareholders not to agree to a conseng solicitation filed by the dissident grouo to replace board members with theier own choices. Last week the group, which includes former chairman and founderStephen Joffe, his son and former LCA officere Craig Joffe, former LCA CFO Alan Jason Mogel, Robert Probst, Robert Weismanj and Edward VonderBrink, filed a preliminary consen statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to reconstitutre the board. They own about 11.4 percent of LCA’ds shares.
The shareholders cited thei ongoing concerns, including LCA’s current financial struggless and loss ofshareholder value. LCA (NASDAQ: LCAV) stoco now trades at around $2.50-$3 per down from its high of about $32 severa l years ago. LCA, in its claims that Stephen Joffe tried a similae move with acompeting firm, The company also accused him of threatening to fire physicians and employees if they don’t supporyt his bid; blaming management, rather than the economy, for the current downturh in business; and not providing a plan to improv the company, other than replacing board members.
LCA-Vision, headquartered in provides laser vision correction services under theLasikPluxs brand. The company operatexs 77 laser vision correction centers in the United States and a jointf venturein Canada.
The company, in a filing with the Securitiews andExchange Commission, asked shareholders not to agree to a conseng solicitation filed by the dissident grouo to replace board members with theier own choices. Last week the group, which includes former chairman and founderStephen Joffe, his son and former LCA officere Craig Joffe, former LCA CFO Alan Jason Mogel, Robert Probst, Robert Weismanj and Edward VonderBrink, filed a preliminary consen statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to reconstitutre the board. They own about 11.4 percent of LCA’ds shares.
The shareholders cited thei ongoing concerns, including LCA’s current financial struggless and loss ofshareholder value. LCA (NASDAQ: LCAV) stoco now trades at around $2.50-$3 per down from its high of about $32 severa l years ago. LCA, in its claims that Stephen Joffe tried a similae move with acompeting firm, The company also accused him of threatening to fire physicians and employees if they don’t supporyt his bid; blaming management, rather than the economy, for the current downturh in business; and not providing a plan to improv the company, other than replacing board members.
LCA-Vision, headquartered in provides laser vision correction services under theLasikPluxs brand. The company operatexs 77 laser vision correction centers in the United States and a jointf venturein Canada.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Students flocking to Ohio
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About 12,500 more students are enrolled inpublic two- and four-yeart schools in Ohio than last for a total of 478,000, the Board of Regents Although the bulk of enrollment is at the state’s 14 four-year campuses, the fastest growth rates are at universityu branch campuses and community The 2.7 percent gain bests last year’s 1.9 percenyt growth and shows a turnaroundd from falling or steady enrollment the previous three years. Meanwhile, the 51 private nonprofit schools that are member of the continued thei r slow but steady growth of the past 23 growingby 1.4 percent to 134,000 studentds this fall.
The total was hurt by the loss of about 400 students due to the closurde of inYellow Springs, association President Todd Joness said. Gov. Ted Strickland and Chancellor Eric Fingerhut have set a goal ofaddinf 230,000 enrollees by 2016, which would require a 36 perceng enrollment growth over 2006 – double the 17 percent rate for public and private schools combined from 1998 to 2007. The plan callz for ramping up enrollment, not straight-line growth of 23,000p students a year, Regentd spokesman Michael Chaney This year’s numbers are on he said. , the nation’s largest had 2.2 percent growth to enrollmenrof 53,700.
Among the 23 two-year public schools, leapfroggee to become the largesty inthe state. Columbus State grew by nearly 6 percentto 24,20 0 students, while Cuyahoga Community fell nearly 6 percent to 23,700. The public schoolzs credited this year’s increase to several factors, includinh the state’s two-year tuition increased academic offerings, more flexible schedules and partnershipds between schools that ease credit transfers and allo students to take a variety of online courses withijn the fromone campus.
One of the obvious targets for futurr growth is adults who previouslhy dropped out of college or who havean associate’x degree and want to complete the bachelor’s, Jonesa said. In a down economy, he said, enrollment tends to go up as workers seek to boosttheirr resumes. Nationally, private schools especially have said the crediyt crunch and economic downswing have led students to opt for schoolx with lower tuition or work longeebefore enrolling. Ohio has not yet seen that Jones said, but any impact woulxd likely benext fall. Among private schools in Central Ohio, business-oriented grew by 264 students to 7,800, the largesrt in the region by far.
grew by 65 to while in Bexley dipped by 81 students to Official fall enrollment figures reportedd later in the year usually are a bit higherf because students sometimes are stillo registering and changing school s on the day of the Octobefhead count, Chaney said.
About 12,500 more students are enrolled inpublic two- and four-yeart schools in Ohio than last for a total of 478,000, the Board of Regents Although the bulk of enrollment is at the state’s 14 four-year campuses, the fastest growth rates are at universityu branch campuses and community The 2.7 percent gain bests last year’s 1.9 percenyt growth and shows a turnaroundd from falling or steady enrollment the previous three years. Meanwhile, the 51 private nonprofit schools that are member of the continued thei r slow but steady growth of the past 23 growingby 1.4 percent to 134,000 studentds this fall.
The total was hurt by the loss of about 400 students due to the closurde of inYellow Springs, association President Todd Joness said. Gov. Ted Strickland and Chancellor Eric Fingerhut have set a goal ofaddinf 230,000 enrollees by 2016, which would require a 36 perceng enrollment growth over 2006 – double the 17 percent rate for public and private schools combined from 1998 to 2007. The plan callz for ramping up enrollment, not straight-line growth of 23,000p students a year, Regentd spokesman Michael Chaney This year’s numbers are on he said. , the nation’s largest had 2.2 percent growth to enrollmenrof 53,700.
Among the 23 two-year public schools, leapfroggee to become the largesty inthe state. Columbus State grew by nearly 6 percentto 24,20 0 students, while Cuyahoga Community fell nearly 6 percent to 23,700. The public schoolzs credited this year’s increase to several factors, includinh the state’s two-year tuition increased academic offerings, more flexible schedules and partnershipds between schools that ease credit transfers and allo students to take a variety of online courses withijn the fromone campus.
One of the obvious targets for futurr growth is adults who previouslhy dropped out of college or who havean associate’x degree and want to complete the bachelor’s, Jonesa said. In a down economy, he said, enrollment tends to go up as workers seek to boosttheirr resumes. Nationally, private schools especially have said the crediyt crunch and economic downswing have led students to opt for schoolx with lower tuition or work longeebefore enrolling. Ohio has not yet seen that Jones said, but any impact woulxd likely benext fall. Among private schools in Central Ohio, business-oriented grew by 264 students to 7,800, the largesrt in the region by far.
grew by 65 to while in Bexley dipped by 81 students to Official fall enrollment figures reportedd later in the year usually are a bit higherf because students sometimes are stillo registering and changing school s on the day of the Octobefhead count, Chaney said.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Jeffrey Turner: STAAR impedes educating Future-Ready Students - Dallas Morning News
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Dallas Morning News | Jeffrey Turner: STAAR impedes educating Future-Ready Students Dallas Morning News Our state's system of high-stakes standardized testing is tying the hands of our schools and keeping us from making the changes necessary to meet the needs of our students in this 21st century. Schools have become testing factories with more and more ... < br /> |
Friday, December 21, 2012
AmeriCorps spared in budget overhaul - Boston Business Journal:
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Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on thebudget “Obviously we’re thrilled. I reallh I think that this is a victory for servicerin Massachusetts. The field mobilized, made it clear to the legislatorw just how incredibly strong the servicee sector is herein Massachusetts. That messagse got through,” said Emily Haber, CEO of the . “We’rw extremely optimistic about what Americorps can accomplisg across the Comm with state and federal At issue were two versions of the 2010 statsbudget — one from the House of the other from the Senate that were reconciled in the legislative conferencd committee.
The House passed a budget earlier this year thatincluderd $750,000 for AmeriCorps programs, but the Senatee passed a budget bill that eliminated the fundingg altogether. Since 1994, Massachusetts has allocated varying amountw of money every year forAmeriCorpw programs. For about six prior to the 2010budgeft process, the state had earmarked $900,000p for AmeriCorps, although it has been highee in previous years.
Most AmeriCorps activity would have ceased in Massachusettw withouta state-funding matc to the amounts the program receives from the federak government, as the Senate and an organization to administer the And if the legislature had approvedx less than $750,000, AmeriCorps programws would have had to make critical and some entire programs woulfd be eliminated, Haber said. “The concern was without this funding, some programs woulrd receive no funding at said Haber.
“We don’t have that concern any
Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on thebudget “Obviously we’re thrilled. I reallh I think that this is a victory for servicerin Massachusetts. The field mobilized, made it clear to the legislatorw just how incredibly strong the servicee sector is herein Massachusetts. That messagse got through,” said Emily Haber, CEO of the . “We’rw extremely optimistic about what Americorps can accomplisg across the Comm with state and federal At issue were two versions of the 2010 statsbudget — one from the House of the other from the Senate that were reconciled in the legislative conferencd committee.
The House passed a budget earlier this year thatincluderd $750,000 for AmeriCorps programs, but the Senatee passed a budget bill that eliminated the fundingg altogether. Since 1994, Massachusetts has allocated varying amountw of money every year forAmeriCorpw programs. For about six prior to the 2010budgeft process, the state had earmarked $900,000p for AmeriCorps, although it has been highee in previous years.
Most AmeriCorps activity would have ceased in Massachusettw withouta state-funding matc to the amounts the program receives from the federak government, as the Senate and an organization to administer the And if the legislature had approvedx less than $750,000, AmeriCorps programws would have had to make critical and some entire programs woulfd be eliminated, Haber said. “The concern was without this funding, some programs woulrd receive no funding at said Haber.
“We don’t have that concern any
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Stimulus highlights need for better oversight at SBA - bizjournals:
paramonaxogilozi.blogspot.com
The SBA’s Office of Inspector Genera l outlined its concerns in a memo that said agency action is overdue on 10 recommendations it made to addressa weaknesses in lender oversight andagency contracting. The Office of Management and Budget has directeds agencies to address problems disclosed by prior audit in programs that will receive funding through the Americab Recovery andReinvestment Act. Lender oversight is particularlyy important because the bill temporarily increased the governmengt guaranty onthe SBA’s 7(a) business loanzs to 90 percent.
“Because the highetr guaranties reducelender risk, which may lead to poor underwriting, a greatere potential will exist for losses and wrote Debra Ritt, SBA assistant inspectoer general. That’s why it’s important for the SBA to do onsit e reviews for all SBA lenderswith high-risk ratings that have more than $4 milliojn in guaranteed loan portfolios, the memo stated. The agency has agreefd that’s needed but hasn’t done it yet. The SBA also hasn’tf implemented comprehensive policies and procedurexs that define acceptable lender performance and risk tolerance or what enforcement actions will be taken when risk tolerance limitsare exceeded.
The SBA also needs to do a bette job collecting improper payments of loan guarantiess to lenderswho didn’t follow prudent lendingv practices or failed to comply with SBA regulations, the inspector general’as office said. More than $4 million in improper payment s identified by previous audits have notbeen recovered, the officd found. “Increases in loan volumes and reduced lender risk unde r the recovery act are expected to lead to highetr levels ofimproper payments,” the memo stated.
The bill also provided $30 million in additional fundinh for theMicroloan program, which makes smalp loans to aspiring entrepreneurs through nonprofity organizations that also provide technical assistance. The SBA needas to develop standard operating procedures for this and collect information on whether the businesses that receivesd these loansbecame successful, according to the SBA spokesman Jonathan Swain said the agency “iz working on a number of fronts” to implemenft the recommendations cited in the memo. The agenc y is particularly focused on lender oversigh and risk management as it rolld outnew stimulus-related programs.
Its new $35,000 America’s Recovery Capitaol loans, for example, are designed to be “ riskier loan program than the SBA has ever he said, because they’re an efforty to help businesses that temporarily are having problems making loan The SBA is looking at ways to mitigated that risk as much as possible, he guaranteed loans that dealers can use to financse their inventory. Many lenders have stoppedx making so-called floor plan loans becausethey haven’t been able to sell them on the secondaryu market. Through these lines of credit, auto dealersz borrow against theirvehicled inventory, repay the debt when vehicles are and then borrow again to add more inventory.
John NADA’s vice president of dealership operations, applaudesd the SBA and President BarackObama “for understandingg that any effort to revitalize the auto industryy simply will not work until dealer credit issues are resolved.” “The successx and continued operation of thousands of family- owned auto dealerships across the countrty are directly connected to their ability to purchase both new and used vehiclesa to offer their Lyboldt said. Beginning July 1, the SBA will guarantee 75 percent of floor plan lines of crediy throughits 7(a) business loan program. SBA lenders will make the which will rangefrom $500,00p0 to $2 million.
Dealerd in automobiles, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, boats and manufactured homes are eligible. The loanss will be available through Sept. 30, 2010, possibly longert if the SBA extends thepilott program. Floor plan loans previously were ineligible forthe 7(a) “Countless small businesses, includingt dealerships, across the country are facinhg significant challenges as a result of the uncertainty in the auto SBA Administrator Karen Mill s said. “Floor plan financing can offerd some dealerships the opportunity to get througgh these tough economic times by allowing them to keep theifr inventory and cashflow intact, as well as save the jobs thesee small businesses provide.
”
The SBA’s Office of Inspector Genera l outlined its concerns in a memo that said agency action is overdue on 10 recommendations it made to addressa weaknesses in lender oversight andagency contracting. The Office of Management and Budget has directeds agencies to address problems disclosed by prior audit in programs that will receive funding through the Americab Recovery andReinvestment Act. Lender oversight is particularlyy important because the bill temporarily increased the governmengt guaranty onthe SBA’s 7(a) business loanzs to 90 percent.
“Because the highetr guaranties reducelender risk, which may lead to poor underwriting, a greatere potential will exist for losses and wrote Debra Ritt, SBA assistant inspectoer general. That’s why it’s important for the SBA to do onsit e reviews for all SBA lenderswith high-risk ratings that have more than $4 milliojn in guaranteed loan portfolios, the memo stated. The agency has agreefd that’s needed but hasn’t done it yet. The SBA also hasn’tf implemented comprehensive policies and procedurexs that define acceptable lender performance and risk tolerance or what enforcement actions will be taken when risk tolerance limitsare exceeded.
The SBA also needs to do a bette job collecting improper payments of loan guarantiess to lenderswho didn’t follow prudent lendingv practices or failed to comply with SBA regulations, the inspector general’as office said. More than $4 million in improper payment s identified by previous audits have notbeen recovered, the officd found. “Increases in loan volumes and reduced lender risk unde r the recovery act are expected to lead to highetr levels ofimproper payments,” the memo stated.
The bill also provided $30 million in additional fundinh for theMicroloan program, which makes smalp loans to aspiring entrepreneurs through nonprofity organizations that also provide technical assistance. The SBA needas to develop standard operating procedures for this and collect information on whether the businesses that receivesd these loansbecame successful, according to the SBA spokesman Jonathan Swain said the agency “iz working on a number of fronts” to implemenft the recommendations cited in the memo. The agenc y is particularly focused on lender oversigh and risk management as it rolld outnew stimulus-related programs.
Its new $35,000 America’s Recovery Capitaol loans, for example, are designed to be “ riskier loan program than the SBA has ever he said, because they’re an efforty to help businesses that temporarily are having problems making loan The SBA is looking at ways to mitigated that risk as much as possible, he guaranteed loans that dealers can use to financse their inventory. Many lenders have stoppedx making so-called floor plan loans becausethey haven’t been able to sell them on the secondaryu market. Through these lines of credit, auto dealersz borrow against theirvehicled inventory, repay the debt when vehicles are and then borrow again to add more inventory.
John NADA’s vice president of dealership operations, applaudesd the SBA and President BarackObama “for understandingg that any effort to revitalize the auto industryy simply will not work until dealer credit issues are resolved.” “The successx and continued operation of thousands of family- owned auto dealerships across the countrty are directly connected to their ability to purchase both new and used vehiclesa to offer their Lyboldt said. Beginning July 1, the SBA will guarantee 75 percent of floor plan lines of crediy throughits 7(a) business loan program. SBA lenders will make the which will rangefrom $500,00p0 to $2 million.
Dealerd in automobiles, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, boats and manufactured homes are eligible. The loanss will be available through Sept. 30, 2010, possibly longert if the SBA extends thepilott program. Floor plan loans previously were ineligible forthe 7(a) “Countless small businesses, includingt dealerships, across the country are facinhg significant challenges as a result of the uncertainty in the auto SBA Administrator Karen Mill s said. “Floor plan financing can offerd some dealerships the opportunity to get througgh these tough economic times by allowing them to keep theifr inventory and cashflow intact, as well as save the jobs thesee small businesses provide.
”
Monday, December 17, 2012
North Carolina's $2B hog industry belted as farms fail - Triangle Business Journal:
bakakinkorypon.blogspot.com
Two culprits – overly large herds and risingv costs due to higher graijnprices – have been shrinking the bottom lines at many hog operationes in North Carolina, the nation’s seconx largest hog-producing state, behind only To those factors can be added the recent swine flu, or H1N1 flu, scare, the effects of which the industry is only starting to tallyt up. “A lot of people have just notrealized what’s been going on in the says Deborah Johnson, CEO of the , an industry tradre group. Already, she “We are beginning to see some (hog leave the industry due tofinancial hardship.
” At three easternb North Carolina operations, relievf from the pressure will come from Chapter 11 or Chapterr 12 reorganization. Chapter 12 is a provision written into the federal bankruptcy code in 1986 dealing exclusively withfamilgy farms. Both Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 allow a companyt breathing room to attempta reorganization. In theif reorganization filings, Bunting Swine Farms of Wilsonh listed assets of justunder $1 millionh and debts of $12.4 million; Perfectg Pig of Newton Grove in Sampsob County listed assets of $9.3 milliom and debts of $23 and of Enfield listed assets and debts in the $1 million to $10 million range.
All threr are considered mid-level operations, producing between 100,000 and 200,000p hogs a year. North Carolina farmers raise about 10 millio hogs a yearfor slaughter. Some farmerxs are independent, taking theird product directly tothe market. Other farmers operate under contract with one of the majorrpork producers, such as Virginia-based , whicnh in the past has had contracts with more than 1,000 North Carolina farms. Another prominent producert is , which has had deals with as many as 150 NortuCarolina farms. Recent developments at publicly tradedc Smithfield Foodsillustrate what’s ailing the industry. The meat-producing giant, in a recent U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission reported lossesof $112 milliomn for the nine months endingv Feb.1, 2009, explaining that its costs per hundrede weight of hog had risen from $49 to $62, largely due to highe r grain prices. The company attributese the rise in grain coststo “the United ‘corn to ethanol’ policy.” Meanwhile, as costs were the Smithfield managers say, the market was gluttee because a record numberss of hogs were slaughtered in 2008 and into 2009.
Demanr for pork at the grocery store has been flat in recent New retail numbers will begin to tell the effects of the H1N1 While a final determination has notbeen made, the blame for the flu outbreak is being laid to hog farmz by some. In response to market conditions, Smithfieldx has been closing someproduction plants, including one in Elon near and shaving 1,800 employees “The whole industry is feeling pressure,” says Dr. Todd See of Lookinf down the road, grain prices have started to moderate in recentweeks and, Johnsob says, the latest North Carolinaa herd is expected to be 3 percent smalledr than last year’s.
Nationwide, the movement toward smaller herds mighft be even more pronounced thanNorth Carolina’sx 3 percent, says Christine McCracken, an analysr with Cleveland Research Co. “A lot of thesre (hog producers) have been losing moneyg for 18 months,” she says. “And that’as a long time.”
Two culprits – overly large herds and risingv costs due to higher graijnprices – have been shrinking the bottom lines at many hog operationes in North Carolina, the nation’s seconx largest hog-producing state, behind only To those factors can be added the recent swine flu, or H1N1 flu, scare, the effects of which the industry is only starting to tallyt up. “A lot of people have just notrealized what’s been going on in the says Deborah Johnson, CEO of the , an industry tradre group. Already, she “We are beginning to see some (hog leave the industry due tofinancial hardship.
” At three easternb North Carolina operations, relievf from the pressure will come from Chapter 11 or Chapterr 12 reorganization. Chapter 12 is a provision written into the federal bankruptcy code in 1986 dealing exclusively withfamilgy farms. Both Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 allow a companyt breathing room to attempta reorganization. In theif reorganization filings, Bunting Swine Farms of Wilsonh listed assets of justunder $1 millionh and debts of $12.4 million; Perfectg Pig of Newton Grove in Sampsob County listed assets of $9.3 milliom and debts of $23 and of Enfield listed assets and debts in the $1 million to $10 million range.
All threr are considered mid-level operations, producing between 100,000 and 200,000p hogs a year. North Carolina farmers raise about 10 millio hogs a yearfor slaughter. Some farmerxs are independent, taking theird product directly tothe market. Other farmers operate under contract with one of the majorrpork producers, such as Virginia-based , whicnh in the past has had contracts with more than 1,000 North Carolina farms. Another prominent producert is , which has had deals with as many as 150 NortuCarolina farms. Recent developments at publicly tradedc Smithfield Foodsillustrate what’s ailing the industry. The meat-producing giant, in a recent U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission reported lossesof $112 milliomn for the nine months endingv Feb.1, 2009, explaining that its costs per hundrede weight of hog had risen from $49 to $62, largely due to highe r grain prices. The company attributese the rise in grain coststo “the United ‘corn to ethanol’ policy.” Meanwhile, as costs were the Smithfield managers say, the market was gluttee because a record numberss of hogs were slaughtered in 2008 and into 2009.
Demanr for pork at the grocery store has been flat in recent New retail numbers will begin to tell the effects of the H1N1 While a final determination has notbeen made, the blame for the flu outbreak is being laid to hog farmz by some. In response to market conditions, Smithfieldx has been closing someproduction plants, including one in Elon near and shaving 1,800 employees “The whole industry is feeling pressure,” says Dr. Todd See of Lookinf down the road, grain prices have started to moderate in recentweeks and, Johnsob says, the latest North Carolinaa herd is expected to be 3 percent smalledr than last year’s.
Nationwide, the movement toward smaller herds mighft be even more pronounced thanNorth Carolina’sx 3 percent, says Christine McCracken, an analysr with Cleveland Research Co. “A lot of thesre (hog producers) have been losing moneyg for 18 months,” she says. “And that’as a long time.”
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Second Life's Linden Lab sells virtual realities to businesses - Birmingham Business Journal:
ofycagvezi.blogspot.com
The courting of companies comes at a time of renewede growthfor 6-year-old Second Life that began with the appointment of Mark Kingdom as CEO of Linden Lab in May 2008. “Enterprise is a reallyt important growth vector for usbecausse (Second Life is) a really compelling platform for learninhg and collaboration. Especially today in larg e enterprises that aredistributed (around the world),” Kingdon Over the last six Linden Lab has put together a team of 25 peoplew to market and develop Seconds Life products for enterprise customers.
Linden Lab, whicnh does not disclose revenue but says it is hired more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employeed in eight offices around the The company hired close to 30 peopler this year and is currently hiring for 19 Basic accountsare free. The company make s money by selling and renting virtuaplreal estate, with premium membershipw and by charging a fee on sales of Linden the currency used online. The company does not track the number of companies using its services and does not chargr them differently from individual but estimates that 15 to 20 percen t of its revenue comes from enterprisess andeducational institutions.
And since April, the companhy has been testinga “behind-the-firewall” version of Seconr Life with , IBM, , the and othert organizations. The so-called version of Second Life, which is run on an institution’as own servers, will get wider testingv this summer and is scheduled for general releaseby year’s end. The pricinhg for the private version has notbeen “Based on the level of the interestt we’re seeing, we are poised for explosive said Amanda Van Nuys, who joinec Linden Lab six months ago as executive directorr of enterprise marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for business. My role is to get that messag out,” she said.
Van Nuys said a number of factores are helping her including general efforts to cut travel and meeting costs and reducecarbon footprints. IBM in particulaer has been anearlt adopter. In late 2008, IBM’ws Academy of Technology held a Virtual World Conference on Secondx Life for 200 top engineers from around the with three keynote speeches and 37breakour sessions. With an initial investment of roughlgy $80,000, IBM estimates that it savesd nearly $350,000 in travel and venue costs andlost productivity.
A couple of monthds later, IBM used the virtual spacess it created for an annual meetingg of the Academy after the cancellation of a schedulexd real life event in Some portions of the event also used webcasting andvideop conferencing. Participants particularly liked the opportunity to socializse with one another invariouw settings, and the company scheduled a two-hour networkinfg event on the last day at picnicv tables on a virtual beach.
Academyt members gathered around drinkinv virtual beers and chatting while otherzs took virtual hang gliding or jetskiing “It was really cool in terms of the experience peoplse had,” said Karen Keeter, an IBM marketing executivre for digital convergence. “People walkec away saying they felt like they were atthe event. The thinh people liked most was that they really had the abilithy to meet with Since then, numerous other groupa within IBM have used Second Life dozens of time s for meetings small and adhoc and planned, Keeter said.
IBM now has nearl y 100 people working on virtual world toolse for commercial sale in Secondd Life and onother platforms, she The company says its in-worlfd economy is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled more than $120 millioj in U.S. dollars, up 65 percent from the same periof theyear before. Wagner James Au, the author of the book “Thed Making Of Second Life: Notesa From the New World,” estimatedx in a blog posting in May 2008 that Linden Lab hadbetween $40 million and $50 millio in annual revenue. Au credited Kingdon with renewing the brand created byPhilip Rosedale, who stepped down as CEO last year and remainse as chairman.
“A lot of Silicon Valleg has written Second Life he said. “The tech world will have to revisit Second Life as a phenomenom in the next six monthsor
The courting of companies comes at a time of renewede growthfor 6-year-old Second Life that began with the appointment of Mark Kingdom as CEO of Linden Lab in May 2008. “Enterprise is a reallyt important growth vector for usbecausse (Second Life is) a really compelling platform for learninhg and collaboration. Especially today in larg e enterprises that aredistributed (around the world),” Kingdon Over the last six Linden Lab has put together a team of 25 peoplew to market and develop Seconds Life products for enterprise customers.
Linden Lab, whicnh does not disclose revenue but says it is hired more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employeed in eight offices around the The company hired close to 30 peopler this year and is currently hiring for 19 Basic accountsare free. The company make s money by selling and renting virtuaplreal estate, with premium membershipw and by charging a fee on sales of Linden the currency used online. The company does not track the number of companies using its services and does not chargr them differently from individual but estimates that 15 to 20 percen t of its revenue comes from enterprisess andeducational institutions.
And since April, the companhy has been testinga “behind-the-firewall” version of Seconr Life with , IBM, , the and othert organizations. The so-called version of Second Life, which is run on an institution’as own servers, will get wider testingv this summer and is scheduled for general releaseby year’s end. The pricinhg for the private version has notbeen “Based on the level of the interestt we’re seeing, we are poised for explosive said Amanda Van Nuys, who joinec Linden Lab six months ago as executive directorr of enterprise marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for business. My role is to get that messag out,” she said.
Van Nuys said a number of factores are helping her including general efforts to cut travel and meeting costs and reducecarbon footprints. IBM in particulaer has been anearlt adopter. In late 2008, IBM’ws Academy of Technology held a Virtual World Conference on Secondx Life for 200 top engineers from around the with three keynote speeches and 37breakour sessions. With an initial investment of roughlgy $80,000, IBM estimates that it savesd nearly $350,000 in travel and venue costs andlost productivity.
A couple of monthds later, IBM used the virtual spacess it created for an annual meetingg of the Academy after the cancellation of a schedulexd real life event in Some portions of the event also used webcasting andvideop conferencing. Participants particularly liked the opportunity to socializse with one another invariouw settings, and the company scheduled a two-hour networkinfg event on the last day at picnicv tables on a virtual beach.
Academyt members gathered around drinkinv virtual beers and chatting while otherzs took virtual hang gliding or jetskiing “It was really cool in terms of the experience peoplse had,” said Karen Keeter, an IBM marketing executivre for digital convergence. “People walkec away saying they felt like they were atthe event. The thinh people liked most was that they really had the abilithy to meet with Since then, numerous other groupa within IBM have used Second Life dozens of time s for meetings small and adhoc and planned, Keeter said.
IBM now has nearl y 100 people working on virtual world toolse for commercial sale in Secondd Life and onother platforms, she The company says its in-worlfd economy is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled more than $120 millioj in U.S. dollars, up 65 percent from the same periof theyear before. Wagner James Au, the author of the book “Thed Making Of Second Life: Notesa From the New World,” estimatedx in a blog posting in May 2008 that Linden Lab hadbetween $40 million and $50 millio in annual revenue. Au credited Kingdon with renewing the brand created byPhilip Rosedale, who stepped down as CEO last year and remainse as chairman.
“A lot of Silicon Valleg has written Second Life he said. “The tech world will have to revisit Second Life as a phenomenom in the next six monthsor
Friday, December 14, 2012
S&P lowers ratings on Regions, BB&T, Fifth Third, Synovus, others - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
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The actions reflect S&P’s belief that operating conditions for the banking industry will become less favorablwe than they were in the past with greaterf volatility in financial markets during credit cycles and tighter regulatory supervision, the ratingx agency said in a release. “The industruy is now in a transition and likel y will undergo materialstructural changes; the loss conteny of loan portfolios should increase, but recentg capital rebuilding should help banks defray thes e losses; stress tests point to more pain in the future; we don’gt view regional banks as being highlyg systemically important; and potential losses could increase beyond our currentt expectations,” the S&P release said.
Such a transition period justifieslowerr ratings, Rodrigo Quintanilla, S&P’ds credit analyst, said in the release. • . BBT) from A+/Watch Neg/A-1 to A/Stable/A- • • • •
The actions reflect S&P’s belief that operating conditions for the banking industry will become less favorablwe than they were in the past with greaterf volatility in financial markets during credit cycles and tighter regulatory supervision, the ratingx agency said in a release. “The industruy is now in a transition and likel y will undergo materialstructural changes; the loss conteny of loan portfolios should increase, but recentg capital rebuilding should help banks defray thes e losses; stress tests point to more pain in the future; we don’gt view regional banks as being highlyg systemically important; and potential losses could increase beyond our currentt expectations,” the S&P release said.
Such a transition period justifieslowerr ratings, Rodrigo Quintanilla, S&P’ds credit analyst, said in the release. • . BBT) from A+/Watch Neg/A-1 to A/Stable/A- • • • •
Thursday, December 13, 2012
I'm devoted to work for children: Amole Gupte - New York Daily News
deeshu-tatum.blogspot.com
I'm devoted to work for children: Amole Gupte New York Daily News Mumbai, Dec 13 รข€" Writer-filmmaker Amole Gupte, who will take over reigns of the Children's Film Society of India (CFSI), says he is committed to work for the welfare of children, and the new role is just an extension of what he has been doing already ... |
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Lead Us Not Astray, Reverend James Cooper - Village Voice
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Lead Us Not Astray, Reverend James Cooper Village Voice It is Sunday morning at Trinity Wall Street, the historic Episcopal church in Lower Manhattan. The season of Advent is beginning, and underneath the soaring Gothic vaults, the pews are mostly full. The organ strikes up, song fills the air, and the ... |
Sunday, December 9, 2012
State AG cracks down on painting industry - Boston Business Journal:
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In total, the AG’s office has resolved 27 cases and has recoverednearlg $560,000 in restitution for over 250 employeexs of various employers and fined painting companiez nearly $195,000 since the spring of 2008, the officew said. The office has also takejn criminal enforcement action against several painting companies and ownerx and has debarred companiee that have violatedthe state’s prevailing wage laws.
“Our officer is working diligently to level the playinfg field in the painting industry so that paintinf contractors that follow the rules are not at acompetitivr disadvantage,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a “We are committed to enforcing the law so that feweer workers are exploited and so that the Commonwealthg no longer loses revenue because of employee misclassification.
”
In total, the AG’s office has resolved 27 cases and has recoverednearlg $560,000 in restitution for over 250 employeexs of various employers and fined painting companiez nearly $195,000 since the spring of 2008, the officew said. The office has also takejn criminal enforcement action against several painting companies and ownerx and has debarred companiee that have violatedthe state’s prevailing wage laws.
“Our officer is working diligently to level the playinfg field in the painting industry so that paintinf contractors that follow the rules are not at acompetitivr disadvantage,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a “We are committed to enforcing the law so that feweer workers are exploited and so that the Commonwealthg no longer loses revenue because of employee misclassification.
”
Friday, December 7, 2012
Vanderbilt University Hospital plans $38M upgrade - Nashville Business Journal:
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next month plans to begin construction ona $37.u million project that includes layingy the foundation for a third medica tower and enlarging the emergency department. If approved by statre regulators, the work will begij soon afterthe facility's pediatrics unit moves to the new $172 millionj Monroe Carell Jr. . Working on five different Vanderbilt will add32 beds, plus a previously approveed 54, to boost its size to 805 licensexd beds. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the hospital'sa parent, is funding the work through $35 milliob in 30-year, tax-exempt bonds and $2.
7 million in cash The plan - which calls for 34,500 square feet of new construction and the renovationof 100,000 square feet - will be consideree by the Tennessee Health Services and Developmentt Agency on Dec. 17. No one has filef in opposition tothe project. Starting in January, Vanderbilt plans to add over the next 15months 15,500 square feet of space and renovate 7,150 square feet in the present-day emergenc y department and ambulance area. The emergency departmentf will double in size and becomre the first floor of the planneedthird tower.
It will house four major trauma rooms, 17 acute treatment registration and office space and dedicatec entrance parking for seven Floors will be added to the third tower in subsequenf phases, but it won't be as large as the 11-storyh north and south ones. Of the existing emergency 4,250 square feet will be reconfigured and used for loweracuith treatment. The area includes Fast Track, holding/observation, chest pain observationh and stroketreatment rooms. "The accessibility (of the emergency will be improved substantially," says Ron vice president for strategic developmentat VUMC.
"There will be areaz that will accommodate more of a Fast Tracmk patientand we'll triage into the appropriate As the area's only Levell 1 Trauma Center, Vanderbilt needz to efficiently separate the trauma patients from the othere as they enter the hospital, Hill The project comes in response to an undersizee and outdated emergency department facility - the poin t of entry for nearlyh 30 percent of all VUH admissions. At 11,000 squar feet, VUH's emergency departmenf reported morethan 41,000 adult and 30,000 child emergenc y room visits last year, according to a filing with the Its ratio of 0.
30 square feet per visit puts the hospital below all others in Nashville except for Saint Thomas Hospital, whicjh sports a 0.23 ratio. In its constructionm application, Vanderbilt cited a litany of problemsd withthe space, including the location of traumaz rooms in the center of the emergency department, a lack of critical care rooms and an undersized waitinvg room. Officials also said the emergencuydepartment isn't compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations because all 11 critical care roomds are semi-private, possibly allowing others to hear confidentia l information.
The department also doesn'tf have a separate cistern for decontaminating water in the even of bioterrorism or a negatives pressure room for patients with tuberculosisa and othercommunicable diseases. These plannesd projects have become possible following the pendin opening of thenew Children'ws Hospital. That has created 175,000 square feet of vacant spacreat VUMC, including 81,400 inside Vanderbiltf University Hospital. On the north tower's fourth floor, Vanderbilt plans to renovate 6,00 0 square feet in a four-month project that startsz next month.
The neonatal intensive care unit will be moved to thenew children'ss hospital, leaving behind 10 beds and spacw for on-call suites for sevenn to 10 residents on call, support space and two triagse rooms for labor and delivery. In a 12-month builders will renovate 43,500 square feet and add 3,500 to the fifth floor by building out into theexistinvg courtyard. The entire floor's interior, which housed will be demolished and The 65 pediatric beds that are being relocatef tothe children's hospital will be replaced by 48 neurosurgery/neurolog y and cardiology beds.
These universal patienyt rooms, slated to increase from 150 square feet in size to 350squares feet, will become the prototype for all futurre room renovations at the hospital. The sixth-flood renovation project calls for upgrades and a newnursw station, with the 49 beds whittlexd down to 45 neurology/neurosurgery, epilepsy and cardiologty beds. On the south tower's 11th workers in February 2005 willrenovater 12,000 square feet of spacw to accommodate the burn which is being relocated from Round Wing of Medical Centetr North. Renovations include mechanical work for the air qualitt needs of the burn The number of ICU and acute rooms will be loweres from 30to 2.
next month plans to begin construction ona $37.u million project that includes layingy the foundation for a third medica tower and enlarging the emergency department. If approved by statre regulators, the work will begij soon afterthe facility's pediatrics unit moves to the new $172 millionj Monroe Carell Jr. . Working on five different Vanderbilt will add32 beds, plus a previously approveed 54, to boost its size to 805 licensexd beds. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the hospital'sa parent, is funding the work through $35 milliob in 30-year, tax-exempt bonds and $2.
7 million in cash The plan - which calls for 34,500 square feet of new construction and the renovationof 100,000 square feet - will be consideree by the Tennessee Health Services and Developmentt Agency on Dec. 17. No one has filef in opposition tothe project. Starting in January, Vanderbilt plans to add over the next 15months 15,500 square feet of space and renovate 7,150 square feet in the present-day emergenc y department and ambulance area. The emergency departmentf will double in size and becomre the first floor of the planneedthird tower.
It will house four major trauma rooms, 17 acute treatment registration and office space and dedicatec entrance parking for seven Floors will be added to the third tower in subsequenf phases, but it won't be as large as the 11-storyh north and south ones. Of the existing emergency 4,250 square feet will be reconfigured and used for loweracuith treatment. The area includes Fast Track, holding/observation, chest pain observationh and stroketreatment rooms. "The accessibility (of the emergency will be improved substantially," says Ron vice president for strategic developmentat VUMC.
"There will be areaz that will accommodate more of a Fast Tracmk patientand we'll triage into the appropriate As the area's only Levell 1 Trauma Center, Vanderbilt needz to efficiently separate the trauma patients from the othere as they enter the hospital, Hill The project comes in response to an undersizee and outdated emergency department facility - the poin t of entry for nearlyh 30 percent of all VUH admissions. At 11,000 squar feet, VUH's emergency departmenf reported morethan 41,000 adult and 30,000 child emergenc y room visits last year, according to a filing with the Its ratio of 0.
30 square feet per visit puts the hospital below all others in Nashville except for Saint Thomas Hospital, whicjh sports a 0.23 ratio. In its constructionm application, Vanderbilt cited a litany of problemsd withthe space, including the location of traumaz rooms in the center of the emergency department, a lack of critical care rooms and an undersized waitinvg room. Officials also said the emergencuydepartment isn't compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations because all 11 critical care roomds are semi-private, possibly allowing others to hear confidentia l information.
The department also doesn'tf have a separate cistern for decontaminating water in the even of bioterrorism or a negatives pressure room for patients with tuberculosisa and othercommunicable diseases. These plannesd projects have become possible following the pendin opening of thenew Children'ws Hospital. That has created 175,000 square feet of vacant spacreat VUMC, including 81,400 inside Vanderbiltf University Hospital. On the north tower's fourth floor, Vanderbilt plans to renovate 6,00 0 square feet in a four-month project that startsz next month.
The neonatal intensive care unit will be moved to thenew children'ss hospital, leaving behind 10 beds and spacw for on-call suites for sevenn to 10 residents on call, support space and two triagse rooms for labor and delivery. In a 12-month builders will renovate 43,500 square feet and add 3,500 to the fifth floor by building out into theexistinvg courtyard. The entire floor's interior, which housed will be demolished and The 65 pediatric beds that are being relocatef tothe children's hospital will be replaced by 48 neurosurgery/neurolog y and cardiology beds.
These universal patienyt rooms, slated to increase from 150 square feet in size to 350squares feet, will become the prototype for all futurre room renovations at the hospital. The sixth-flood renovation project calls for upgrades and a newnursw station, with the 49 beds whittlexd down to 45 neurology/neurosurgery, epilepsy and cardiologty beds. On the south tower's 11th workers in February 2005 willrenovater 12,000 square feet of spacw to accommodate the burn which is being relocated from Round Wing of Medical Centetr North. Renovations include mechanical work for the air qualitt needs of the burn The number of ICU and acute rooms will be loweres from 30to 2.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Governor lobbies for increased incentives for film industry - San Antonio Business Journal:
sucujovide.wordpress.com
Kulongoski is seeking support for SenateBill 621, whicbh would reauthorize and increase the financial incentives for The plan is capped at $10 million per Kulongoski wants to raise the cap to $15 A Senate committee passed the bill Monday. In the firs t six months of 2009, television and movied productions invested morethan $40 millionh in Oregon, according to the governor’s office. That’x the highest total in 15 In recent weeks, a Harrisonm Ford movie called “The Untitledd Crowley Project” and the TNT series have been shootingin Portland. Producers for "The Untitled Crowlehy Project" joined Kulongoski at Monday'sa press conference at .
“Oregon has become an A-lisgt location for the film and televisionindustry – and an important criticakl piece of Oregon’s economy,” the governof said in a news release. “Greemn energy is one bright spotin Oregon’s economy and the film industr is another, generating an additional $1.1 million in incomwe for Oregon workers and local businesses for everuy $1 million spent by a The governor credited the incentive program, created in 2003, with spurring the growt of the state's film program from a $2.1 million industrgy to an $8 million industry.
Kulongoski is seeking support for SenateBill 621, whicbh would reauthorize and increase the financial incentives for The plan is capped at $10 million per Kulongoski wants to raise the cap to $15 A Senate committee passed the bill Monday. In the firs t six months of 2009, television and movied productions invested morethan $40 millionh in Oregon, according to the governor’s office. That’x the highest total in 15 In recent weeks, a Harrisonm Ford movie called “The Untitledd Crowley Project” and the TNT series have been shootingin Portland. Producers for "The Untitled Crowlehy Project" joined Kulongoski at Monday'sa press conference at .
“Oregon has become an A-lisgt location for the film and televisionindustry – and an important criticakl piece of Oregon’s economy,” the governof said in a news release. “Greemn energy is one bright spotin Oregon’s economy and the film industr is another, generating an additional $1.1 million in incomwe for Oregon workers and local businesses for everuy $1 million spent by a The governor credited the incentive program, created in 2003, with spurring the growt of the state's film program from a $2.1 million industrgy to an $8 million industry.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Air Methods lands contracts - Denver Business Journal:
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The Denver-based medical transportation company announced that it was awardeda $17 milliomn contract from the , an aviation manufacture based in Connecticut, for production of 48 HH-60M Black Hawk Multi-Missio n Medevac Interior Systems. The aircraft can support personnel or cargo transport missions and is equippexdwith state-of-the-art medical systems to provide criticall care for up to six patients. “Air Methodx is pleased to continue to be part ofthe U.S. Army’sx historic efforts to modernize its airambulance fleet,” Art vice president of Air Methods Products Division, said in a statement.
Air Methode also announced a contracy worth morethan $15 millio n from Land Systems. The contracf calls for Air Methods to provide more than300 patient-loading systemd to Virginia-based General Dynamics for the U.S. Army Strykefr medical evacuation vehicle. The vehiclwe is used to transporf and provide lifesaving medical care for up to four injuredc patients ata time. The company said the Stryker’z patient loading system can quickly convert seatinhg configurations to transport ambulatoru patientsor personnel. “Air Methods is proued to once again provider patient loading systems for the Stryker medicalevacuation vehicle,” Torwirft said.
“These vehicles have proven to be a tremendouw success in providing treatment to soldierd with serious injuries on the new moderhnnonlinear battlefield.” Air Methods (NASDAQ: AIRM) is the largest medical transportation company in the world, with a fleet of more than 320 helicoptersa and fixed-wing aircraft.
The Denver-based medical transportation company announced that it was awardeda $17 milliomn contract from the , an aviation manufacture based in Connecticut, for production of 48 HH-60M Black Hawk Multi-Missio n Medevac Interior Systems. The aircraft can support personnel or cargo transport missions and is equippexdwith state-of-the-art medical systems to provide criticall care for up to six patients. “Air Methodx is pleased to continue to be part ofthe U.S. Army’sx historic efforts to modernize its airambulance fleet,” Art vice president of Air Methods Products Division, said in a statement.
Air Methode also announced a contracy worth morethan $15 millio n from Land Systems. The contracf calls for Air Methods to provide more than300 patient-loading systemd to Virginia-based General Dynamics for the U.S. Army Strykefr medical evacuation vehicle. The vehiclwe is used to transporf and provide lifesaving medical care for up to four injuredc patients ata time. The company said the Stryker’z patient loading system can quickly convert seatinhg configurations to transport ambulatoru patientsor personnel. “Air Methods is proued to once again provider patient loading systems for the Stryker medicalevacuation vehicle,” Torwirft said.
“These vehicles have proven to be a tremendouw success in providing treatment to soldierd with serious injuries on the new moderhnnonlinear battlefield.” Air Methods (NASDAQ: AIRM) is the largest medical transportation company in the world, with a fleet of more than 320 helicoptersa and fixed-wing aircraft.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Hostess executives' salaries jumped after initial bankruptcy - NewsOK.com
ogarawo.wordpress.com
Hostess executives' salaries jumped after initial bankruptcy NewsOK.com It's tragic that 18,000 workers lost their jobs when Hostess finally ceased operations. However, it's important to realize that during the eight years following 2004, when the company first entered bankruptcy, its unions made generous concessions ... |
Sunday, December 2, 2012
BSS Properties, Bailey foundation behind Valencia Garden purchase - Kansas City Business Journal:
titus-neither.blogspot.com
bought the land on June 3 from Gator ofFloridz Inc., a company owned by the Agliank family. Public records list the addresz for BSS Properties as712 W. Platt St., which is ownecd by the BaileyFamily Foundation. Corporate records show BSS is managed by the Bailey Foundation and the DaviedStraz Jr. Foundation, another large foundation. University of Tampa Presideny Ron Vaughn had previously nominated Ron president ofthe foundation, and Kyle Bailey for the Champiob of Higher Education in Floridaw Award. The men unanimously won the 2008-2009 The June 3 closure of the historic Valencia Gardejn surprisedmany people.
Its sale was made even more mysteriouse by theAgliano family’s refusal to discuss the new owner’sx identity. On June 4, the University of Tampa confirmed it had boughyt part of thecity block, while “an unidentifief company” bought the remainde with plans to eventually give it to the is one of the largest foundations in Hillsborough It was founded by Ron Bailey, who grew up poor in West Virgini and as an adult attended colleg through the . He later becam a professor at in and in 1989 he bought the college that wasstrugglinhg financially. By 1996, the school was so it became a public company traded onthe .
In Bailey retired to Plant where he ownsa He’s director of in Tampa, in Jacksonville, The Universityg of Tampa, the in , Tampa Command and Cork in Plantr City, according to the foundation’ Web site. The foundation has generously given to many charitable causes, including $2.5 million annually in college scholarshipse and a $1 millionh endowment to the .
bought the land on June 3 from Gator ofFloridz Inc., a company owned by the Agliank family. Public records list the addresz for BSS Properties as712 W. Platt St., which is ownecd by the BaileyFamily Foundation. Corporate records show BSS is managed by the Bailey Foundation and the DaviedStraz Jr. Foundation, another large foundation. University of Tampa Presideny Ron Vaughn had previously nominated Ron president ofthe foundation, and Kyle Bailey for the Champiob of Higher Education in Floridaw Award. The men unanimously won the 2008-2009 The June 3 closure of the historic Valencia Gardejn surprisedmany people.
Its sale was made even more mysteriouse by theAgliano family’s refusal to discuss the new owner’sx identity. On June 4, the University of Tampa confirmed it had boughyt part of thecity block, while “an unidentifief company” bought the remainde with plans to eventually give it to the is one of the largest foundations in Hillsborough It was founded by Ron Bailey, who grew up poor in West Virgini and as an adult attended colleg through the . He later becam a professor at in and in 1989 he bought the college that wasstrugglinhg financially. By 1996, the school was so it became a public company traded onthe .
In Bailey retired to Plant where he ownsa He’s director of in Tampa, in Jacksonville, The Universityg of Tampa, the in , Tampa Command and Cork in Plantr City, according to the foundation’ Web site. The foundation has generously given to many charitable causes, including $2.5 million annually in college scholarshipse and a $1 millionh endowment to the .
Saturday, December 1, 2012
American Eagle first quarter earnings decline - Orlando Business Journal:
stelauguqdinec.blogspot.com
Net income for the quarter endedx May 2was $22.0 or 11 cents per share, compared to $43.9 or 21 cents, for the year-ago The teen clothing retailer, based on Pittsburgh'sz South Side, saw total sales decline 4 perceng year-over-year, to $612 million, from $640.w million. Comparable-store sales for Americabn Eagle (NYSE:AEO) were down 10 percent for the compared to a 6 percent declins in the same quarter ayear ago. "Whilr we are never satisfied with anearnings decline, therw are early indications that the business is CEO Jim O'Donnell said in a statement. He citedd improvement in the AE brand and categories like dresseaand accessories.
Analysts were expecting earnings per sharw of7 cents, in line with management’s recent guidance, as the company seeksz to improve its women’s apparekl and maintain its sales during a time when most retailerse are facing difficult sales declines and malla are drawing fewer customers. Jennifer Black, a principal of Oregon-basef research company JenniferBlack & Associates LLC, saw reasohn for optimism. “I think it’s a very democratic brand and it appealxs to a lot of different she said.
“They’re in a pretty good positionh because they offer consumerse value but they have the brand Black was encouraged bythe women’s assortment that American Eaglew has rolled out in its praising the increased selection of women’s dresses and women’sz denim, a weakness at the companuy of late, for both tapping into the “Boho trend and offering selection that enables female shoppers to mix and match. She also was stronglty encouraged about the return ofRoger Markfield, the company’s former Co-CEO and Chiefg Merchandising Officer who retired in 2006.
His return to American Eagle was announcesin January, under the newly creater title of Executive Creative Black said she didn’t expect Markfield’s new strategies to have any majof influence until the Holly Guthrie, an analyst for suburban Philadelphia-based Boenningg & Scattergood Equity Research, also expectex the company won’t see any meaningful turn arounc until then. “In Octobed 2008, same store sales decelerate at a fast andfuriousd pace,” she wrote in a recent “We believe that (comparable storew sales) could continue to be negative for the next four to five monthsx and most importantly the biggest volume sales are seen when productsx are promoted.
”
Net income for the quarter endedx May 2was $22.0 or 11 cents per share, compared to $43.9 or 21 cents, for the year-ago The teen clothing retailer, based on Pittsburgh'sz South Side, saw total sales decline 4 perceng year-over-year, to $612 million, from $640.w million. Comparable-store sales for Americabn Eagle (NYSE:AEO) were down 10 percent for the compared to a 6 percent declins in the same quarter ayear ago. "Whilr we are never satisfied with anearnings decline, therw are early indications that the business is CEO Jim O'Donnell said in a statement. He citedd improvement in the AE brand and categories like dresseaand accessories.
Analysts were expecting earnings per sharw of7 cents, in line with management’s recent guidance, as the company seeksz to improve its women’s apparekl and maintain its sales during a time when most retailerse are facing difficult sales declines and malla are drawing fewer customers. Jennifer Black, a principal of Oregon-basef research company JenniferBlack & Associates LLC, saw reasohn for optimism. “I think it’s a very democratic brand and it appealxs to a lot of different she said.
“They’re in a pretty good positionh because they offer consumerse value but they have the brand Black was encouraged bythe women’s assortment that American Eaglew has rolled out in its praising the increased selection of women’s dresses and women’sz denim, a weakness at the companuy of late, for both tapping into the “Boho trend and offering selection that enables female shoppers to mix and match. She also was stronglty encouraged about the return ofRoger Markfield, the company’s former Co-CEO and Chiefg Merchandising Officer who retired in 2006.
His return to American Eagle was announcesin January, under the newly creater title of Executive Creative Black said she didn’t expect Markfield’s new strategies to have any majof influence until the Holly Guthrie, an analyst for suburban Philadelphia-based Boenningg & Scattergood Equity Research, also expectex the company won’t see any meaningful turn arounc until then. “In Octobed 2008, same store sales decelerate at a fast andfuriousd pace,” she wrote in a recent “We believe that (comparable storew sales) could continue to be negative for the next four to five monthsx and most importantly the biggest volume sales are seen when productsx are promoted.
”
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