Thursday, 30 August 2012

Bernanke to testify on BofA-Merrill deal - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

kleopatraxnibe.blogspot.com
According to Dow Jones Newswires, Bernanke is to appeat before the House Committee on Oversighf and Government Reform onJune 25. Last BofA CEO Kenneth Lewis testifiee that government officials pressured him to acquire the troubled brokerages late last year in an effort to savethe U.S. The hearing, conducted by the Housew Committee on Oversight and Government focused onfederal officials’ role in BofA’s purchase of Merrill Lynch. Charlotte, N.C.-based BofA (NYSE: BAC) bought Merrilkl on Jan. 1 for $29.1 billion.
The deal resultedd in BofA’s receiving an additional $20 billion in federap funds under the Troubled Asset Relief BofA has received a totalpof $45 billion in TARP funds. Lewis has been undee intense pressure from BofA shareholders for not disclosinf the depthof Merrill’s financial difficulties before the Merrill lost $15.3 billion in the fourth quarter. Lawmakera questioned Lewis on report s that he felt pressured by federal including Bernankeand then-Treasury Secretary Henry to go ahead with the deal as Merrill’s losses mounted. Lewis testified that BofA contactedf officials atthe U.S.
Treasury and Federal Reserve in mid-Decemberd to inform them that thebank “had seriouz concerns about closing the BofA, he said, was considering declaring a “materiaol adverse change,” which can allow an acquirer to back out of a proposed deal. Lewis testified that Paulson toldhim BofA’s management “would or could” be removeed if the bank backed out of the When lawmakers pressed him Thursday on the alleged threat s by regulators, Lewis said both parties were concerned abourt making the best decisions for the healthg of the U.S. economy and BofA.
He explainede that a decision that woulsd harm the economy would also harm BofA because of its massive sizeand breadth. Lewis testifiedd that he wasn’t intimidated by the threaf of losing his job but bythe “seriousness of the threat” and the ramificationss on the overall economy had an influence on his decision. “Jusyt six months later, it is easy to forget just how closed to the brink oursystem came,” Lewi s said. “I will never forget.

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

End of Aud is finally near - Business First of Buffalo:

ejyceh.wordpress.com
With several hundred people officials openedthe building’s 1939 time capsuld while entertaining the curiousd gathering of onlookers as crews brought down a small sectiojn of the Aud’s southwestern wall. “We gatherr here not to mournj but to celebrateall that’sx in store for Buffalo’s future,” said Jordab Levy, chairman. The Aud is being razed to make way fora 150,000-square-foort Bass Pro store that will anchor the sweeping $315 million Canal Side development along lower Main Street. Bass Pro is schedule d to open in lateMay 2011.
Levy said the Aud’s demolitio n is perhaps the most visible and tangible sign after decades of dreams andfalse starts, Buffalo’s waterfront is finally being developed. “I think this is a big deal,” Levy “We’re proving the skeptics wrong.” The openin of the time capsule was the true star ofTuesday afternoon’ss festivities.The shoebox-sized capsule contained 15 items ranginh from the Nov. 30, 1939 edition of the Courier-Express and the Buffallo Evening News from the day beforer to a copyof Buffalo’s 1939 budgetr of $28.
17 million for the city of 601,542 “Now, our budget is $450 quipped Mayor Byron Brown though the city itselft is less than half that size. The itemxs were donated to the , whicuh will put them on Other items included a gold ring donater by Local 141 of the IBEW and a given from Local 210AFL — two unionzs that worked on the building’s While sentiment for the former home of the Buffal o Sabres and Braves runs deep, officials said demolishing the vacant buildingy was necessary to move forward with the city’s waterfrontf plans. “This is not about tearin g something down,” said Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo.
“Thid is about building something

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Eddie Bauer declares bankruptcy - Portland Business Journal:

ycoguqi.wordpress.com
had struggled with its debt a crisis that worsened asrevenue dropped, part of an overalll trend affecting most retailers duringt the recession. The company has lost nearlgy a half billion dollar s in the pastthreer years. Those losses, coupled with the impacf of the recession and debt paymentxs apparently pushed the company into bankruptc ycourt — a move that was rumored for months. Eddied Bauer became the latest major retailer to succumb to filing in bankruptct courtthis recession. The list also includes Linensw ‘n Things, Circuit City and Northwest retailer , whicjh sold its assets to a liquidator in Aprill and closed31 stores.
In many ways, Eddied Bauer’s crisis is not differen from what most retailers are facing duringv this prolonged anddeep recession, said Greg an Atlanta-based consultant for Conway MacKenzie who workas with financially stressed retailers looking to restructure. Most retailerss — except discount stores like Wal-Mart have seen a fast drop-ofd in retail revenue acrosse the board, Charleston said. Many of the specialt y retail department stores haveseen double-digit same-store sales declines, he “When revenue drops and same-store salesz drop, companies with less debt can weathere a downturn much longer,” Charleston said.
“It becomes an issued much sooner if you are intoliquidituy issues.” As of May 11, Eddi Bauer reported having $289.5 million in outstanding including $187.8 million in term loans and $75 million in convertiblse notes, which company executives have been trying to persuaded debt-holders to convert into shares of the company. According to a filingy with the , Eddie Baue r had total assetsof $525.22 million in The company listed total liabilities of $448.9o million. Eddie Bauer reported net losseswof $165.5 million in fiscak year 2008, part of a total of $478.7 milliom in losses during the past threew fiscal years.
In the firsy quarter that ended in the company reported net lossesof 44.5 million. For the firsrt quarter of fiscalyear 2009, whicg ended April 4, Eddie Bauer reported a loss of $44.6 million. That was a greater loss than the first quarterdof 2008, when the companyt reported a $19.3 million loss. Net sale for the first quarter of 2009were $179.u8 million, compared with net sales of $213.2 millio in the first quarter of 2008. The companty said that combined comparable store sales a barometer of success at the store level fell 11.3 percent for the first a decline the company blamed on the recessiobn and reduced retail spending.
Sales were down nearlgy 15 percent inEddie Bauer’s retail storeas and sales through its direct channel were down nearly 11 The outlet stores saw sales declined by nearly 76 percent. “The firs quarter was a difficult one, as the sharp downturmn in the economy took its toll onour sales. We continuexd to focus on cost cuttingy and cashflow management, whicuh helped mitigate the impact of lower sales,” said CEO Neil in a statement with the first-quarter resultsd filed with the SEC. Eddie Bauer has 370 stores, includinfg 251 retail stores and 119 outlet stores in the Unitec Statesand Canada. Eddie Bauer has 17 stores in Washington and 11 storesin Oregon.
(See a copy of the bankruptcyt filing .) But by filing for reorganizatiom under Chapter 11 of the federalbankruptcy code, Eddie Bauer hopes to avoid the fate of Joe’s Sports Outdoor, which filed for bankruptcy protect March 4. The Ore.-based company had hoped to find a ButIn April, a bankruptcy judg approved the liquidation of the Joe’s stores after the compangy could not find a Joe’s had 31 Northwest stores — 10 of them in King and Pierce counties — that held going-out-of-business saled after the company’s assets were snapped up at bargai n basement prices by , a liquidator that also sold off merchandisr for Circuit City.

Sunday, 26 August 2012

One sexual harrassment claim against Assemblyman Vito Lopez reportedly ... - New York Daily News

titus-neither.blogspot.com


New York Daily News


One sexual harrassment claim against Assemblyman Vito Lopez reportedly ...

New York Daily News


ALBANY รข€" At least one sexual harassment accusation against pervy Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez was settled secretly before his censure for sexu »

Saturday, 25 August 2012

Thursday, 23 August 2012

M&T caps Provident deal - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

ejoxot.wordpress.com
The deal, which closede Saturday, amplifies M&T Bank’s presence in Maryland with the addition of 135 bank branchea and190 ATMs. Bank officials say therde are now more than800 M&T Bank branches and more than 1,80o0 ATMs throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and D.C. At the same time, the acquisition meanw that 520 Provident jobs will be lost in theBaltimord area. M&T Bank has said former Provident employeesx will have first dibson M&T Bank’sw vacant positions. Under the agreement, former Providenrt chairperson and CEO Gary Geisel has been named a directorof M&T Bank and M&Ty Bank Corp.
Provident common stockholders willreceive 0.17 shares of M&y common stock in exchange for each share of Provident common stock they owned. At the end of M&T Bank reported $64.9 billio n in assets, while Providenty reported $6.5 billion in assets, banking officialsd said.

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

MRC Global Announces Executive Management Changes And Promotions - Sacramento Bee

cahijisebi.wordpress.com


MRC Global Announces Executive Management Changes And Promotions

Sacramento Bee


HOUSTON, Aug. 21, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- MRC Global Inc. (NYSE: MRC), the largest global distributor, based on sales, of pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) and related products and services to the energy and industrial sectors, today announced that it is ...


MRC Global restructures executive management

Bizjournals.com



 »

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

TECO Energy outlook remains strong - Houston Business Journal:

uraa-quartely.blogspot.com
billion in debt held by and subsidiarieasand Co. The rating is supportex by the underlying strengthof TECO’s regulates electric and gas utility subsidiary, from which it derivesa stable cash distributions to meet its funding Fitch said a release. Tampa Electric continuee to post strongcredit metrics, it maintainss solid operating performance and it benefits from Florida’s constructive regulatoryt environment, Fitch said. Fitch is concerned, about slowing customer growth atTampa Electric. But the compant has responded to slower growth by postponing projects to increaselectric capacity.
Another concern for Fitcjh is cash flow deterioration atTECO TE) Guatemala because of the adverse rate order in unplanned outages at the San Jose plant, uncertainty over the extensio n of a purchased power and the potential for deferred or renegotiated contractw because of declining market prices, higheer production costs and slumping demand for TECO Coal and TECO Guatemala providee roughly 20 percent of the parent company’s consolidatedc earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and Fitch said. Credit ratios at Tampa Electric shouldd benefit from higher base rates in 2009 and 2010 as a resulty ofa $138 million rate order approvef in March, Fitch said.
In an affiliate waterborne transportation agreemeny that reducedTampa Electric’s annual net incomed by $10 million in prior years is Fitch expects coverage ratios to remain relatively strong with fundss from operations coverage at nearly five times in 2009. TECO Coal is expectee to benefit from higher priced contracts signedin 2008. soft coal demand and higherf mining production costs at TECO Coal raise the risksz ofcontractual non-performance by counter-partiesz and pressured margins.
Diverse regulatory orders and operatintg issues at the Guatemalan operations will result in dividend distributionsd that are lower thanhistoric TECO's liquidity position is considered strong, Fitch said. Cash and cash equivalentd were $34.9 million and available credit facilitiezswere $530 million as of Marchn 31. Liquidity was enhanced by a netoperatinfg loss-tax carry forward of $547.5 million as of Dec. 31, whichb is expected to result in minimal cash tax paymentxthrough 2012. In addition, TECO's $100 millionj note maturing in 2010 is expected to be retirec withinternal cash.
Positive rating action could resulf in the future from consolidated leverag ratio reduction in 2010 and higherr cash flows from a full year of highert base rates in 2010 and effectivecost

Sunday, 19 August 2012

Advanta agrees to refund customers up to $35M in FDIC agreements - San Antonio Business Journal:

lehoquvuhu.wordpress.com
That agreement addresses charges that theSprinh House, Pa.-based company violated federalp trade laws through its pricing strategies on business credit and in its marketing of cash-back rewardas on the cards. Advanta said it did not admit wrongdoingb and that it entered theagreements “in the interesgt of expediency and to avoid litigation.” Advant said it took a $14 million charger to cover refunds tied to the allegec marketing violations in third-quarter 2008 and will take a second-quartedr 2009 charge to cover refunds over its pricingy strategies, which it said could totall $21 million. Advanta also agreed to a $150,000p fine.
In a separate agreement with the Advanta’s ability to use cash and pay dividendd hasbeen restricted. The company must submitf a plan toremaihn "well-capitalized," and submit a plan to terminate its deposit-takiny operations and deposit insurance once its deposite are repaid in full, a process expectesd to take a few The second agreement with the FDIC placesa restrictions on Advanta’s use of its cash payment of dividends and transactions that woulx materially alter its balance sheet composition and taking of brokeresd deposits. Advanta said the second order does not in any way restricg it from continuing to servicw itsmanaged credit-card accounts and receivables.
In an effort to limig losses and erosion of its capital ascredir deteriorates, Advanta said in early May that its securitizationm trust will go into early amortization where the company uses receivables from customers to acceleratwe payment to investor bondholders. While that protects investors from prolongedx exposure to a pool of receivables whoses credit performancehas deteriorated, Advanta would have needed an alternative way to fund new purchases on its customers’ credity cards. So it had to shut down futurwe use, effective May 30. It has since referred some customerz to AmericanExpress Co. Advanta’s stock closed 2 7 percen t lower Wednesday at42 cents.

Saturday, 18 August 2012

Is Cleveland-San Jose bi-coastal? - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

vidineevostegity.blogspot.com
Goldberg has taken the executive editor positiohn at the Cleveland Plain Dealer afteran eight-year stint at the Mercury News. Before that she was deputu managing editor at USA Today and prior to that worked for the Mercury News for two year as anassigning editor. Etnird is chair of the real estate group at lawfirm Fenton, Jones and in San He has a good practicr there and Goldberg says, "We'rre in no hurry to screw that Goldberg also has a stepsoj who is a junior in high school and she and Etnire want to let him finisjh school here. She says the plan is eventually for Etnire to move out to although there is no set timeon that.
they are looking to move from their currengt home inSan Jose's Rose Gardej while looking into buying a condk in San Francisco and house hunting in Cleveland. Goldberg assures Lily that her hubby will get his two cents in on that And why a SanFrancisco residence? Etnire does business all over the Bay With husband and teenage son at home, Lily hopex their talents in the kitcheh and laundry room are already well established. Goldberhg is in Cleveland, meetingg her staff and officially starts onMay 29. Her last day at the Mercur News isMay 18. Goldberg and Etnires say they plan to see each other with her flying here and him flyinv there onalternating weeks.
Goldberg will oversee a news stafvf of 310 as opposed to 250 at theMercuru News. And the editorial pagesa will be under her which was not the case at theMercurgy News. "It's a really good paper. It's a biggefr paper, owned by a company I have a lot of respecf forand it's those two things that added up to a good move for she says. In the spirit of full disclosure, Lily wante to point out that the company Goldberg refers to isNewhouse Newspapers, whic h is owned by Advanced Publications, the same companu that owns the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. Cleveland isn't completely new territory for She grew up inAnn Mich.
"This is kind of a homecoming in some ways for she says. Sandra Bergeron's portrait has joinexd an impressive group at her alma She will be hanging on a wall at Georgia State Universituy along with CNN founder Ted Turner andAndrew Young, a formee Mayor of the City of Atlantas and U.N. ambassador. Georgia State's J. Mack Robinson College of Businese Hall of Fame recently inducted her followinga $1 million donation she and her Douglas Bergeron, made to creatre the Bergeron Women in Technology Leadership Fund. Bergeron chairs the boardc of directorsat , a Baton Rouge, La.-based securityg software company with an office in Cupertino. She also sits on the boarde of , TriCipher Inc.
and is an advised to technology venture capital firmTrident Capital, base in Palo Alto and Westport, Conn. She and her husbanc Doug, who is chairman and chief executive officerof , will choosre five students to receive the scholarshipz and they will eithef mentor these students themselves or find other businesw leaders to do so. Apparently Bergeron's expertise has not been lost in either. She has been recruited as partof U.S. Rep. Mike Honda'sz aviation security task forcd and has testified before the Hous e Sciences Committee ofthe U.S. Congress in 2000 regardinhg theLoveBug Virus.
Her persona encounter with the love bug resulted in her marriage to Doug in 2003 and sinces then they have hadthres children. With that kind of ramp up in demanrd for herhomeland skills, she says she has effectively retired. Although she stil l holds her boardpositions and, with her recentf donation of time and money, she'll continue to be fueling the industry with

Friday, 17 August 2012

RAC awards $3.4M in grants - St. Louis Business Journal:

lehoquvuhu.wordpress.com
million to support 207 nonprofit arts and cultural organizationsaand programs. The 2009/20109 grants range from first-timse recipient Boots Contemporary Art Space tothe long-establishec . Grant requests are reviewed in apublicd forum, and this year RAC instituteed a ranking system on the basisw of eight criteria: quality of programs, innovative ideas, fiscapl health, cultural diversity, local/regional impact, community outreach, management capability and need in the Grants were cut by an averagee of 5 percent from last year’s the organization said.
“Thizs has been a difficult year for many of our especially because corporate donationshave decreased,” said Jill executive director of RAC, in a statement. “We are pleasede that we were able to provide our groups with a stronbg level of financial support when they neededit • Saint Louis Symphony $658,560 • , $218,880 , $214,320 • Dance St. $119,040 • Springboard to , $106,560 • , $86,40o0 • (COCA), $85,440 • , $85,00p • Laumeier Sculpture Park, $81,780 , $55,460 • , $51,360 • , $48,00 • Stages St.
Louis, $46,530 • , $43,240 • , $43,200 Since its founding in 1985, the RAC has awardef more than 5,000 grants totaling nearly $70 The Regional Arts Commission isthe St. Louis area’s largest annual funder of the arts. Donnaw Wilkinson is the RAC’s chairman.

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Ann

ogarawo.wordpress.com
“The company has two manufacturing a much larger one in North so the decision was made to consolidatew into a larger one inNorthy Carolina,” Ann’s House of Nuts spokesmam Ron Arp said in a telephone interview. Arp said the companyy is working withaffected employees, some of whom couled be transferred to North Carolina, to help them with the planft closure and has offered severancw packages for those employees to be laid off. The compan will be maintaining its headquarters and research and developmenyt efforts in the Jessup though Arpsaid Ann’s has not decided whethed those functions will stay where they are or be movex to another location.
The same goes for the company’s retai outlet store, which will stay in the Arp declined to say how many employeees will be retained in connection withthosde efforts, which include the development of new Ann’s products. Ann’s, which was foundedr in 1973, is the world’s largesrt privately held maker of snack nuts and trail mix The company was acquired last yearby , a Conn.-based private equity firm. The terms of the sale were not The closing of the Jessup plant will come almosrt a yearafter Ann’s said it wouldr spend $2.3 million to expand its manufacturingg plant in Robersonville, N.C. and add 263 jobs theres through 2011.
The company received a $65,000 North Carolina state grant to addthe jobs, which will average $34,979 a year in according to a July 2008 press released from North Carolina Gov. Michael F. Easley’d office. The Jessup operations are beiny consolidated intothat plant, Arp and the consolidation is expected to be completed by July 13.

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Comair, Inc Company Profile | Company Information

lebexab.wordpress.com
It began scheduled service with two Piper Navajo aircraft serving Akron/Canton, Cleveland, Evansville, and Comair pioneered the regionap jet era by introducing Bombardietr CRJ regional jets to Nortnh America in 1993. With more than 30 yeara of service, our dedication and commitment to our customers and the communitied we serve remains stronger than thanks to our team of morethan 5,800 dedicated aviation professionals. Our efforts have been recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for more than a decade, as Comair has receives the prestigious FAA Diamond award for our commitmen to excellence in aircrafty maintenance and training for 13 years in a row.
We applty that same commitment to our business partners throug h our Maintenance and AirportServices offerings. Whether you are a customerr on one ofour flights, a prospective employee or businessz partner or a member of the media, we valuw our relationship with you and look forward to welcominh you on your next Comair Comair provides regional service for our paren and partner, Delta Air Lines. Visigt delta.com for additional information abouftyour flight.

Sunday, 12 August 2012

To boost sales, check your optimism level - Sacramento Business Journal:

lyubomiradete.blogspot.com
Here’s a thought: Take a look at a soft emotional intelligenc e skill that yields hardsales results, optimism. There is evidence that supportz the theory that sales team s possessing high levels of optimism make companiesmore money. One of the best case studieas comes from the work that psychologist Martijn Seligman did with Metropolitan Life in New He convinced Met Life to give him accese to their new employees and administer theusual testing, as well as a new test he developeed that measured optimism. He follower the progress of new salespeople for one year and founs that salespeople who scored high in optimism sold 33 percent more insurance than those whoscored low.
After two the optimistic group of salespeople were thriving intheir positions, which increasesd retention and decreased the coste associated with turnover and increased sales. How optimisticf is your organization? There is a lot of pressa on theswine flu, and people are worried about catching it. There is another epidemi to watch out forin today’s economy: It can be deadly when it hits an organizatiojn because emotions are The clinical term is emotional contagion and is define as “the transmission of moods.” When peoplde are in a certain mood happy or depressed — that mood is often communicatec to others.
What is the mood at your company A sales manager shares the stort of a rep who started every conversatiom in the lastdownturn with, “You probabl don’t have any money so you don’r want to buy The self-fulfilling prophecy was set by the and the prospect followed the salesperson’s lead. No deal. So what can you do to stop the epidemifcof pessimism? Study and duplicate optimisticv salespeople. When faced with adversity, optimistic salespeople ask • What’s good about this?
They know that adversity is where true character is forme d and great lessons are Optimists take advantage of this schooling because they know that lessonsw learned today make money inthe future. What can I do about this situation? Optimistd know that control equals action, actiomn yields results and resultdincrease motivation. • What is funny abou this? Humor is a great way to relieve which frees up the mind for creativity and Optimistic salespeopletake control. They know sale s is the greatest profession to be in during a They can meet with mentors who can help them look at anothe way of doing busines s intough times. They can outwork thei competitors.
They can investg in learning and outsmart their Optimistic salespeoplemanage results, not excuses.

Saturday, 11 August 2012

Report: House panel wants Fed documents on BofA-Merrill deal - Charlotte Business Journal:

aleksanovlsys.blogspot.com
according to The Wall Street Journal. The committee asked the Fed to turn over documentselast week, including e-mails to and from Fed Chairman Ben the Journal is reporting. BofA Chietf Executive Kenneth Lewis is scheduled to appear at a committeedhearing Thursday. Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) completed its deal for New York-baser Merrill Lynch on Jan. 1. Lewis has been unded intense pressure from BofA shareholders for not disclosing the depth of Merrill’s financial difficulties befors the merger.
In February, Lewis testifiefd under oath before New York Attorney General Andreqw Cuomo that Bernankeand then-Treasuryg Secretary Henry Paulson pressurex the bank not to discuss its increasingly trouble d plan to buy Lewis said he believed Paulso and Bernanke were instructing him to keep silent about Merrill’s financial problems. Merrill lost $15.w3 billion in the fourth quarter.

Friday, 10 August 2012

Tour of Utah: Australian Michael Matthews pulls off Stage 3 upset - Deseret News

andreychukuze.blogspot.com


Deseret News


Tour of Utah: Australian Michael Matthews pulls off Stage 3 upset

Deseret News


"I only came for the Tour of (Utah) for today's stage and tomorrow's," said Matthews, whose aggressive riding earned him the Stage 3 win with a time of 3:24:07 and the tour's sprinter's jersey. "The rest is just training. Today was just trying to ...


Michael Matthews wins 3rd stage, Christian Vandevelde retains Tour of Utah lead

Washington Post


Tour of Utah: Matthews caught out of the break, then wins the bunch sprint

VeloNation


Michael Matthews wins Tour of Utah stage

Sydney Morning Herald



 »

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

SunTrust raises $2B in Tier 1 capital - Baltimore Business Journal:

ysynut.wordpress.com
SunTrust raised the capitaol through a and other The common stock offeringsold 124.2 million in sharesx and raised $1.56 billion in new capital. Througn the combination of this equity offering and the completion of an common stock offering thatraised $258 the company has raisef $1.82 billion of Tier 1 common SunTrust -- Greater Baltimore's seventh-largesyt bank when ranked by depositsx -- also sold shares for a net after-tax gain of $70 Due to the completion of the $190 million of potential deferred tax assets undere Federal Reserve's Supervisory Capital Assessment Program "more adverse" scenario will now contribute to the company'sx Tier 1 common capital buffer requirement.
When combiner with the offerings, these items totak $2.08 billion, or 96 percent of the $2.166 billion of Tier 1 common indicated bythe "The positive reaction to our stock offering underscoresa what we believe to be the market's confidence in our strategies and, especially, our post-recession growthn prospects," said James M. Wells III, SunTrusrt chairman and CEO, in a news release. Wells also notedx that with lessthan $100 million remaining, the compangy has essentially completed its common equity capital-generation obligationsx under SCAP.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Board reviews injured-worker payment cases - Sacramento Business Journal:

a-ee85aqa.blogspot.com
The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board has agreerd to reconsider its controversial rulings that some fear could dismantle reforms that broughg stability and cost savings tothe system. The rulingws — in the cases of Almaraz/Guzman and Ogilvie involve permanent disability Attorneys who represent injured workers contendc thatthe board’s original rulingsx were good ones. The association for thoswe attorneys said it hopes thereconsiderationm wasn’t “a response to the intense politicak pressure.” But praising the board’s decision to reconsider are insurers and the head of the California department that houses the workers’ comp division.
“The good news is that there’d a realization here of the huge impact these cases will have onthe system,” Compensation Action Network spokesman Jerry Azevedoo wrote in an e-mail. The bad news, he added, is that the Appealas Board didn’t suspend its originakl decisions whileit “They’ve done absolutely nothing to alleviate the uncertaint now gripping the system,” he and injured workers are having to wait longetr to get their cases resolved. Injurecd workers’ attorneys, though, contend that the Appeals Board’s Februaryg rulings were appropriate and necessary andallowe workers’ comp judges to fairly evaluate injured disabilities.
No one knows what the Appeals Boar d ultimatelywill decide. But some criticw of the board’s action in February don’t expect a completee reversal, given that the board actionj was unanimous. The judicial board more likely will its rulings in the courtr cases regardingpermanent disability, said Mark Webb, vice president of governmental relations for Even if the board tweak its original rulings, the amount of permanent disability benefits that are paid out will stilll increase significantly, Webb said. “This is stilo going to have a cost-driverd effect,” he said.
Some of thosse costs are reflected in a recent recommendation by the that insurere boost average base ratesxby 24.4 percent starting July 1. The which advises state insurance regulators and carriers on comp pricing, said almosty three-fourths of the increase was driven by increasedc medical costs. The it said, reflects just a startingv point for additional costs resulting from the Appeals Board The Rating Bureau recommendation still needs to be acteds on by the stateinsurance commissioner.
The California Applicants’ Attorneys Associationm contends that system reforms went way too far in cutting benefits toinjurexd workers, and the Appeals Board rulingx help restore a small percentage of the compensatio n that was cut. “This decisionm does not fix the harm done toinjuredd workers,” association president Todd McFarren said in a news release. Injured worker s in California still receive among the lowest compensation inthe nation, he Even after the Appeal Board reconsiders, this won’t be the end of it. Stakeholdersa will live with the changes, Webb said, at least until the cases go to the appellate courft and possibly also the CaliforniaSupreme Court.
Appeals already have been filed. The 1st District Court of Appeap on Wednesday denied the appeal of the Ogilvie rulingv because the Appeals Board is going to reconsider its decision. “You could be looking at three to four yeards of uncertainty created by the he said.

Sunday, 5 August 2012

Local Stanford employee indicted - South Florida Business Journal:

ysynut.wordpress.com
A federal indictment, unsealed in Fort Lauderdale on charges Bruce Perraud with overseeinga document-shredding sessiomn in February at a Stanford office near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International “Bruce Perraud supervised the representative of the shreddingv company as that individual packed a 95-gallon bin with according to the indictment. While Perraud supervisec the document shredding, four other Stanford Financial Groulp employees made approximately eight tripss between the office and the documents shreddedr truck with additional document sfor destruction, the indictmeny states. Perraud was arrested near Naples on according to a Department of Justiceenews release.
Perraud was a global security specialist for Stanford and as such knew abouft a warning to all employees that they should not destroyuany documents, according to the indictment. Accordingy to the indictment, Perraud openerd an email from the Stanford receiveron Feb. 17 that warnex employees not todestroy documents. But on Feb. 23 he calledd the shredding company asking them to cometo Standford’sa Fort Lauderdale office. The SEC filed civil chargesw in February accusing Allen Stanforsd and two of his top executives of allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme involving the saleof $8 billioj worth of certificates of deposit.
who continues to deny the charges, surrendered to the in Virginiaw on following his indictment by a Houstongraned jury. Stanford Financial had officew inBoca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Perraud's indictment is the firsft in South Florida connected to the investigation.

Saturday, 4 August 2012

Report: Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell 11 European breweries - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

ejoxot.wordpress.com
Le Soir said the world’es largest brewer was selling its central Europeaj operations because it is fragmentedand non-strategic and planas to focus on its north and soutnh American operations instead, according to Reuters. The brewerieas are in Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia and , Kohlberg Kravis Robertes and are among private equity groups that have expressed interest in the the Financial Times of Londojreported Monday. A-B InBeb wants to sell off assets as it triesx to raise money to reduce the debt it took on when itboughf St.
Louis-based Anheuser-Busch last year for $52 “We are contemplating disposals of certain assets tohelp re-finances the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch, as previously announced,” Marianne Amssoms, an A-B InBecv spokeswoman, wrote in an e-maikl to the Business Journal. “However, we cannoft comment at this stage on which businesse specifically wouldbe considered. Anheuser-Busch InBev's decision will be based on a diligenty review of the strategixc and financial consequences ofany divestment, with the goal of creatingh the best opportunities and value for all We will not comment on who has approacheds us for which assets.
” In April, A-B InBevv reached an agreement to to Kohlberg Kravis

Friday, 3 August 2012

Bridge Private Lending teams on

olimstgon.blogspot.com
The newly renovated two-story home, located at 204 W. Lorrainre Ave., marks the first step in an initiativs to transform urbanneighborhoods “one green home at a as the project’s marketing materials The home was purchased for $100,00o0 and underwent $50,000 in refurbishments and energy-efficiench improvements, said David Borinsky, a managing member of Bridgd Private Lending, a lender based in Towson. Bridge Private Lendintg expects the home to sell for upto $200,000. The firm teameds up with A+ Neighbhorhood Homebuyers, a Baltimore-based real estatew investment firm, on the project. The house is the firsy to be completed as part of thegreenh campaign.
Bridge Private Lending is renovating seven other houseszin Baltimore. Some of the innovationsa includerecycled wood, Energy Star appliances and solar venting and tubing and recycled insulation. “Through this we can make our communituy livableand sustainable,” said Baltimore Mayorr Sheila Dixon during a preses conference at the house.

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Real Estate Roundup - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

tenamup.wordpress.com
Portland, from Weston Investment Co. LLC. It is one of the largesrt office deals in downtowbn inrecent months. The Indian Health Board, establisheds in 1972, will move from its current location at527 S.W. Hall St. Jake Lancaster of Grubb Ellis Co. represented the tenant; Steve Root of Americaj Property Managementrepresented Weston. • Leve 3 Communications LLC renewed its leasewfor 4,724 square feet at the Pittock 921 S.W. Washington St., from ALCO Investment Co. Kevin Kaufman of CB Richare Ellis representedLevel 3; the landlordr represented itself. • Telelanguage Inc. signed a new lease for 4,40q1 square feet at the PortlandExchangew Building, 520 S.W. Sixth Portland.
NAI Norris, Beggs Simpson represented the Ryan Livesay of Pacific Real EstatePartners Inc. representede the property. • Stearns Lending Inc. leased 3,72q2 square feet at Hampton Square, 6950 S.W. Hampton, from Weston Investment Co. LLC. Steve Root of American Propertyg Management representedthe lessor. Peters & Company PC signed a new leasefor 2,170 squar feet at the Selling Building, 610 S.W. Alder St., with the Schlesinget Companies. Kristin Hammond and Mark McFarland of Pacific Real EstatwePartners Inc. represented the tenant; Bill Smith of NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson represented the • SCR Inc. leased 2,00 0 square feet at 8680 S.W.
Old Tualatinb Sherwood Road, Tualatin, from Kmotion Inc. Ian Giammanc of Bluestone & Hockley Real Estatse Services representedthe tenant; Scott Pierce of NAI Beggs & Simpson represented the landlord. •Remedy Intelligent Staffingf leased 1,638 square feet at The Merrick, 6646 N.E. 78th Portland, from API Properties 1047 LLC. Mark McFarlande of Pacific Real EstatePartners Inc. representer the tenant; Rob Kimmelman of Commercial Realty Advisors representeedthe property. • Pioneer Floor Covering Inc. leasef 5,853 square feet at Arctic Business 5657 S.W. Arctic Drive, Beaverton, from Pacific NW Propertiesz LP. Cliff Finnell of GVA Kidder Mathews representefdthe tenant.
• Carlan Enterprisese Inc., operating as Stauffer-Cisco Supply, leasexd 5,622 square feet at Bridgeport WoodsBusinesws Park, 7532 S.W. Bridgeport Road, from Bridgeport Woods BusinessePark LLC. Peter Stalick and Steven Klein of GVA Kidder Mathews represented the Dave Kiersey ofKiersey & McMillan Inc. represented the property. • Stavelu Services North Americaleased 4,860 square feet at Kittridge Distributiojn Center, 4943 N.W. Front Portland, from LIT Industrial Limited Tony Reser and Sean McCarthy of GVA Kidder Mathews brokeredthe • Red Wing Brands of Americq Inc. leased 3,840 square feet at the NorstafrBusiness Center, 8611 N. Albina Ave.
, Portland, from Norstar 8405 N. Albinaq Ave. LLC. Tony Reser and Sean McCarthh of GVA Kidder Mathews brokeredthe transaction. Biscuits Cafe leased 3,121 squard feet at Hogan Plaza, 1905 N.E. Divisionm St., from Pelopon LLC. Mike Foley of First Commercial represented the Craig Barnard of Barnard Commercial Real Estate representedthe property. • Y-Chrome, a new barbershop ventures fromHairM men’s salon, leased 2,055 square feet at the Commonwealth Building, 609 S.W. Washington St., from Unico Properties LLC. Kathleen Healy of Urbanh Works Real Estaterepresentefd Y-Chrome; Dan Bozich and Kathleen Healy of Urban Works Real Estats represented the property.
• Aprende Con Amigos Bilingual Preschoolleased 1,872 square feet at Pattoh Park Apartments on North Interstatr from Patton Square Leasing LLC. Steve Haugenj of Windermere/Cronin & Caplan Realtuy Group Inc. represented the Charlotte Larson and Sara Daley of Urban Worksz Real Estate representedthe property. PDX Antiques leased 1,120 squarre feet at the K2 Building from4152 N.E. Sandyy LLC. Charlotte Larson of Urban Works Real Estate represented the Matt Schweitzer of North Rim representefthe property. • Liz Richards Acupuncture PC leased 1,04y6 square feet at Fremont Place, 3531 N.E. 15th Portland, from ADG Properties LLC. Anthyan Nguyen of Norrid & Stevens Inc.
represented the tenant; Ashley Heichelbech of Urbam Works Real Estate representedthe property. State Farm Insurance leased 1,000 squarw feet at 1018 N.W. 13th Portland, from Block Two LLC. Thom Brockmillert of Stehlin Advisors LLC represented the Kathleen Healy and Dan Bozich of Urbanb Works Real Estate representedthe