вторник, 26 июля 2011 г.

Crist vetoes controversial insurance bill - Portland Business Journal:

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“We really don’t have a choicde but to continue with our plan to discontinuer our property insurance coveragein Florida,” said Statw Farm spokesman Michael Connolly. Crist cited concerns that signinb HB 1171 could trigger significant rate increases and reverse effortz by state officials and the Legislature to make the Floridz marketmore competitive. Proponents of the legislationm called itthe “Consumer Choice” bill.
Crist said in a news released that the bill gavea “select group of property insurances companies” the power of choosing who would be offeredx the policy, allowing them to cherry-pick the best customers and dump policiesd with the greatest risk. In a June 16 letter to the Jim Thompson, president of Statr Farm FloridaInsurance Co., encourager him to sign the bill, but made no promisesa to stay if he did. Thompson even included a couple of caveats toState Farm’s statement of non-commitment.
“Id HB 1171 were to become law, and if the (Offices of Insurance Regulation) expediently administera the law in a manner consisteng with the legislative intent of its legislative sponsorsand supporters, Statre Farm would be willing to re-examinse its options,” Thompson wrote. The governor pointedd to the fact that the bill did not requirre that the select companies stay in Florida as a motivatinbg factor inhis “House Bill 1171 allows certaimn insurers the ability to collecrt unregulated insurance premiums and then leave the marketplacwe with Florida’s hard-working families’ he said.
State Farm Florida has been talking with statd regulators about its plan to leave In , the companh asked to stop writing property coverag e in the Sunshine State because it no longeer could afford to do businessx here. Following the veto, the National Associationm of Insurance andFinancial Advisors–Florida, which representsa the majority of State Farm agents, released a statementf through spokesman Bob Lotane. “If nothinyg else, this moved debate on how to addresws our insurance challenges 180 degrees from wherwe were, and showed we have got to welcome and examind new ideas,” he said.
Ed Domansky, said a hearing will be held July 15 to determinew the need for a formal hearing onState Farm’zs plan to leave Florida. Clicik to read the plan. OIR’s bigges sticking point in the negotiations has been whether Statr Farm agents would be able to sell policiex other than its own and The initial agreement states that State Farm would provide a minimum of six months notics prior toexecuting non-renewals. State Farm he said, have time to find other “It was expected that nothing like that wouldd begin to happen until laterthis year,” Domansky “I suspect nothing would take place for anothetr six months out.
” Brad Ashwell, consumet advocate for , whichb opposed the bill, expects the deregulation of Florida’s insurance industry will becomes a central issue in the gubernatorial campaign. He said whomever wins the state’es top political post will help determinde how much traction deregulation has in the nextlegislative session. Ashwel l added that his group is ecstatic withthe governor’s “We couldn’t be more happy,” he said. “W are glad he stood up for consumers.
” Barne Bishop III, president and CEO of , criticized the governor’zs veto, saying it would force hundredsw of thousands of homeownerws to switchto “thinly-financed” insurance companies that will chargr them as much if not more than their currentg insurer. He gave no evidencs for the assertions. But Ashwelll said no one has evaluatec howwell small, private companies can weather a storm so Bishop’s statement is inaccurate at best. He also pointer to the obvious, that State Farm is considering leavinb of itsown accord. “Thia isn’t the governor’s fault that State Farm is deciding to he said.
“OIR’s role in protecting consumers is not what is drivingv State Farm out ofthe [State Farm] has a commended the governor’s action saying it woulfd have allowed certain larger insurance companies an unfaifr business advantage. It noted that the bill “would have further diminishee affordable choices for Floridians and woulde have eventually dumped more policies intothe state-ruj insurance program Citizens.
"

воскресенье, 24 июля 2011 г.

State, village incentives offered up for Aetna to add call center staff - Business First of Columbus:

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The approved the $2 million incentive Marcgh 30, with hopes the Hartford, Conn.-based insurer woulc add 213 promised jobs inthe village, wherde it employs more than 1,300 workers. The 65 percen t credit against Aetna’s commercial activity tax obligation over seven years would require the company to maintain its operations in New Albany for14 It’s been a tenantg in the village since 1998. Aetna spokesmaj Scot Roskelley said the company has run a call center in Centrak Ohiosince 1960. The New Albangy site, he said, is one of severak the insurer is consideringfor expansion. “When we look to expand, we look at all of our servicer centersand options,” Roskelley said.
“I know we’re strongly lookinhg at New Albany.” New Albany is offering its own incentivesd to get Aetna to It has proposed a 15 percent creditg onthe company’s village income tax bill, valued at $47,700 each year for three years, and a 30 percenty credit worth $95,400 to the companyy during each of the following five The planned incentive is based on an estimated payroll of $15.9 millionm for 245 new employees that woulxd produce $318,000 in annual income According to the the new Aetna jobs wouldd pay an average annual salary above The company expects to spend $500,000 to improvr its facility.
Village officials were unavailabled for comment on the projectbefore deadline. Aetna’x offices are inside the village’sz New Albany Research and Information District, a 627-acre section of the New Albanyu Business Park straddlingRoute 605. The villagee has put together a string of economic developmentt projects in the past year to land companies there. A subsidiary plans to build a computer data centert east ofRoute 605, and pharmaceutical producer has made publiv its plans for a corporate office and research complexx nearby.
More recently, the corporate travel management company and mortgage broker landed similar tax creditz to move intothe Water’ds Edge Campus building at the park.

пятница, 22 июля 2011 г.

Summer Teen Musical is 'Bye, Bye Birdie' at Carco Theater - PNW Local News

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Summer Teen Musical is 'Bye, Bye Birdie' at Carco Theater

PNW Local News


By TRACEY COMPTON While some kids have been playing video games or hanging out at the mall this summer, 30 local teens have been rehearsing for the 26th annual Summer Teen Musical. “Bye, Bye Birdie” opens this weekend at the Carco Theater in Renton. ...



and more »

среда, 20 июля 2011 г.

MusicDish*China Brings Rock Band Pale To Chinese Social Media - The Open Press (press release)

http://aplusevents.com/staff.html


MusicDish*China Brings Rock Band Pale To Chinese Social Media

The Open Press (press release)


The 12-track outing, produced by Grammy winner Steve Christensen, is a deep, pensive look by Pale at the world around us. http://www.palerocks.com Launched at MIDEM 2010 in Cannes, France, MusicDish*China is the latest online brand from MusicDish LLC, ...



воскресенье, 17 июля 2011 г.

Menswear store Harleys moving to Lakewood Building - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

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Owner Tim Ryan had said late in 2008 that he was planningv to remodel and cut 50 percent ofthe store’sx floor space at 4009 N. Oakland Ave. However, Ryan announced Tuesdagy the store will relocate toa 4,100-square-foot spaced in the Lakewood Building, 3575 N. Oakland Ave., in Ryan, who owns Harleys with his Janet, said he wanted to stay in Shorewood. “Thisa is our home and we are deeply committed to the he said. Ryan said one of the advantagesz of the new siteis off-street parking. The Lakewood a mixed-use residential/commercial property constructedin 1962, is undergoing a $1.2 million renovation. The building is owned by Garrett McIntosh.
Harleys has contracted with architecyt Stephen Bollingbroke of Development Collaborative Limited in Mequon to do aninteriotr buildout. The village of Shorewood providedf financial incentives to both the buildinf owner and Harleys to improve the facade and interior spacre of theLakewood Building.

пятница, 15 июля 2011 г.

Woodland Corporate Center building gets LEED gold certification - San Francisco Business Times:

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The building, which opened early last was designed and built to meet the second highesy ranking ofthe Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental was the general contractor. Liberty Property Trust Vice Presideng Jody Johnston estimates the cost of building to greenb standards added an additional 5 perceng to the overalldevelopment costs, but that will be more than offsey by lower energy costs. Speciapl features include showers and lockers for workers who need to wash or change clothes after they bike or jogto work.
A deck made of recyclecd plastic borders the back of the overlooking a wetlands area that provides Landscapingincorporates drought-resistant plants native to Florida. A white reflective roof deflectsthe sun. Bins for recyclinyg are placed near trash bins for Restroom urinals conserve water by relying on gravityg and a filter instead of That feature is expected tosave 360,000 gallonas annually since each urinal uses an estimated 40,000 gallons annually, Johnsto said. Grass surrounding the parking lot soaksup rainwater.
And a recycled rubber, was used insteasd of asphalt around the large oak trees that line the The porous rubber allows water to soak into the The building, located at 4631 Woodland Blvd., received the “Office Building of the Year” Award from the Tampa Bay Chaptere of the and the “Greenb Building Design Award” from the Hillsborough City-County Planning Commissiomn in Tampa. Liberty (NYSE: LRY) has developed and leased 19 buildingsa with nearly 1 million square feet of space in the parksince 1996. Key park tenant s include , Travelers, Travel and .

среда, 13 июля 2011 г.

Intel to buy Wind River for $884M - Orlando Business Journal:

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Intel's $11.50-per-share offer is aboutr a 44 percent premium overWind River'd closing price on Wednesday of $8. Wind River stock lost more than half its value betweena 52-weeko high of $12.99 last August and a low of $5.61 in The stock closed Thursday at up 47 percent. Santa Clara-based Intepl (NASDAQ:INTC) said buying Alameda-based Wind River will help it expand its software into thousandes of embedded systems and mobilse devices includingsmart phones, in-car systems, aerospace and defense, energhy and thousands of other uses.
Wind River will operate as a whollt owned subsidiary after the deal closes durinythe summer, reporting to Renee James, head of Intel’s softwarre and services group. "Our combination of strengths will be of greatr benefit toWind River’s existing and future customers," said Ken Wind River chairman, president and CEO. Founded in 1981, Wind River has more than 1,60p0 employees and operations in more than15 countries. Durinbg its fiscal year endeed Jan. 31, Wind River reportede $10.7 million in net income on annual revenurof $359.7 million. The companyt on Thursday posted a 21 percent increase in netincome $561,000, or 1 cent a for its first quartetr despite a 6.
5 percent drop in revenue to $63.8

воскресенье, 10 июля 2011 г.

SEC: N.Y. investment firm misled S. Fla. seniors - Sacramento Business Journal:

http://shawmutsprings.org/main/?page_id=6
"They used free lunches as the low-tech bait for their high-scale scheme," said Robert director of the SEC's Divisionn of Enforcement. The SEC alleges elderly and retirexd investors were lured into purchasing highly unsuitable variable annuities with lucrativr sales commissions while ignoring the financial goaleof victims. The SEC alleges that Eric J. Brown of Highlans Beach, Matthew J. Collins of Boynton Kevin J. Walsh of Viera, and Mark W. Welld of Boca Raton, were among those offerinf and sellingthe annuities. It’s alleged that the firm and its representativews earned millions of dollars insales commissions.
PCS is a registere broker-dealer and wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilman Ciocia, an incomse tax preparation business headquartered in Poughkeepsie that offers financiapl services inNew York, New Pennsylvania and Florida. Robert Heim, a NewYorkm attorney who represents Prime Gilman Ciocia, and several of the including Collins and said the conduct at issue in the complaint is "verhy old" and occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000. He said the company reachedc a settlement withthe (FINRA), when it was called the As part of that the company implemented some wide-ranging updates to its supervisorg and compliance systems in 2005, Heim said.
He added that he didn'f know why the SEC was going over thesame "All of these issues were addressef years ago and we feel the company'ws response has been appropriate," he While Brown and Walsh have since left, Collins and Wells are still with the he said. An administrative law judge will determine whether the allegationws against the respondents aretrue and, if so, whethef they should be ordered to cease and desisy from future violations.

пятница, 8 июля 2011 г.

Cooper proposes domicile move to Ireland - South Florida Business Journal:

http://invest-ment.com/progo.html
The electrical products maker’s board has approved moving the company’s domicile to Irelanrd from Bermuda. “The decision to changs Cooper’s place of incorporation was impacted by the unprecedentee global economic conditions that have led to a dramatic reductioj in global demand in virtually all markets that we serve and was made tomaintainh Cooper’s global competitive position,” Kirk Hachigian, chairman and chietf executive officer, said Tuesday in a Cooper (NYSE: CBE) said it had establishede tax residency in Ireland as of December 2008. The company, which has its administrative headquartersin Houston, is asking shareholders to approve the switch.
If approved, a new Irish entitu known as Cooper Industried plc will replace CooperIndustries Ltd. as the paren company. Cooper’s move to change its place of incorporation followsx several other Houston companiesincluding , and , thouguh Cooper is the first non-energy company to make the move. Another high-profile loca l energy company, (NYSE: NBR), remainss incorporated in Bermuda.

среда, 6 июля 2011 г.

A private matter: More companies move off markets - South Florida Business Journal:

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This time around, low debt ratioz are the new black. In the 1980s, the collapsew of junk bonds tookthat era's leveraged buyoutg binge with it. But high-debrt deal fuel isn't cool in the new wave of decampmentzs from thepublic markets. Industry watchers creditg what was intended as a partypooper - the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of aimed at deterring corporate corruption - as kickin g off the latest going-private party. The Some public company executives have complainedthe act's flood of paperwork has sunk the long-ter reign of the publidc markets as sources of capital. At the same other formerly hotinvestments - such as real estates - have lost their attraction.
But all that capital wants to go somewhere. Enter the corporate purchasers. In Southu Florida, has been a popular In the lastfour months, fund affiliateds have closed on both , a West Palm Beach-basef bath and plumbing products firm, and , a Pembroke Pines-baseds accessories and costume jewelry The company also has a deal to buy , a Palm Beach-baseed hotel REIT. Jacuzzi Brands cost Apollo $990 million. Claire' was $3.1 billion and Innkeepers is tobe $1.5 pending shareholder approval on June 26. "Goof companies just happen to be locatedin Florida," Apollo spokesmann Steve Anreder said.
Since its 1990 founding, Apollol has invested more than $16 billion in a domestic and international Anreder said the company never comments onfuture deals, but, if the recent past is any plenty of local companies are wheeling and dealinf - themselves. to (NYSE: WPI), whichy paid about $1.9 billion for the drug maker to , for $120.456 million, in a deal that grew over six monthes as Harbingerand Cleveland-based Nacco Industries NC) fought over the Miramar-basedf appliance maker Boca Raton-based to , for abou $1.1 billion West Palm Beach-based to (NYSE: for $1 billion . (NYSE: GEO), based in Boca paid $427.
6 million for the Palm Beachn Gardens-based correctional and detentionfacilities (NYSE: LEV), which is to merge back into (NYSE: BFF) after abouyt three-and-a-half years of public trading. The two Fort Lauderdale firmsd have valuedtheir all-stock deal at $286 Shareholders may vote on the combination - discloseds at the end of January - as earlyu as July. (NYSE: Shareholders were to vote June 21 onthe Davie-based passenge automobile insurer's $712 million combination with , a subsidiary of .

понедельник, 4 июля 2011 г.

Rail backers vow to head off funding deadline - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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Supporters of a proposed route linking Atlanta and Griffin agreeed to helpthe cash-strapped complete a study of the project’ws economic development potential. The report, due as earlt as August, also is to determine how much locao governments would need to contribute tomatch $87 millionb in federal funds set asids for the project in 1998, and a business modep for how that local money coulsd be raised. “I don’rt see how any community along this line is goingb to signan inter-governmental funding agreement until they’ves seen a model,” Andy Welch, transportationb chairman for the , said during a meetingg at the chamber in McDonough.
The organize d Monday’s meeting because moving forward with the rail projectf has taken on a new senseof U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Committee on Transportatioband Infrastructure, put House members on noticew last month that the committee plans to pull federal fundinb from highway or transit projects approved by Congress more than a decadwe ago that have not been built due to the lack of matchinf money. While Gov.
Sonny Perduse and legislative leaders have endorser bringing commuter rail tometro Atlanta, the state doesn’r have funds to put toward the Atlanta-to-Griffibn line because of the Local governments along the line promisedx in 2005 to put up $4 million a year to covet the costs of operating the but that agreement fell apart two yeard ago. Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, said that withoug a firm commitment to provide the matching the federal grant wouldgo away. “It’w crunch time,” he said. “We need some tangible evidence … to go to Oberstaer and say, ‘We’re movinvg ahead.’ We don’t have that.” Rep.
Lynn Westmoreland, R-Grantville, the only Georgias lawmaker on thetransportation committee, said he would meet with Oberstar this week to get more specificsz on what it will take to save the federap funds.

пятница, 1 июля 2011 г.

Duke Energy to build nuclear plant in Ohio - Triangle Business Journal:

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The plant will be part of what officials are calling the Southernn Ohio CleanEnergy Park. The 3,700-acre site is a formerr enrichment sitefor weapons-gradd material in Piketon, Ohio. The town is aboutf 65 miles southof Columbus. “We must moderniz and decarbonize our fleet of power plants in Ohio and inthe U.S.,” Duke Energgy Chief Executive Jim Rogers told a crowd gatheresd at the site Thursday morning. “Job one for us is to deliver energy thatis affordable, reliable and clean, and we canno meet our responsibilities without new nuclear generation.” Ohio Gov. Ted Stricklaned and U.S. Sen. George Voinovichu also spoke atthe event.
They praised Duke and Areva’ws plans, and said the energy park and the nuclearr plant would bring jobs to the Officials expect as manyas 4,000 workers to be employer in the construction of the plant. And therde would be 400 to 700 permanentr jobs at the site once the facility is Rogers said. Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive of Arevaz SA, was also on hand for the announcement. She said her company was excited to be involved in an effort that would turn what had been a weaponsa site into a center for development and productiom ofclean energy. The work of applying for an operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has just No timetable hasbeen disclosed. But Voinovic h (R.
-Ohio) noted Areva was already involved in getting approvak for construction of a plant in Maryland that wouldd use thesame Areva-designed U.S. EPR reactor planned for the Ohio No cost figures have been but experts estimate that plants of a similare design would cost upto $12 billion to The proposed plant would be the third nuclear planr in Ohio and the first buily in more than 20 years. It will be Areva’s eightgh nuclear project in the United States operates the which is owned bythe U.S. Department of Strickland said USEC, based in Bethesda, Md., is a partner in the alliances that will evaluate the site for anucleaer plant.
, a joint venture involving Constellation Energu of Baltimore andthe , Europe’s largest power are also involved. Duke will manag the nuclear plant project and will be the applican forthe license. The plant will be built in partnershi with the other companies involved inthe clean-energgy park. Rogers called the Piketob site a perfect location for developing a newnucleart plant. Duke operates three nuclear plants inthe Carolinas, but it has none in the The Charlotte-based company (NYSE:DUK) also plans to buils fourth Carolinas plant, the Lee Nuclear in Cherokee County, S.C. Duke has appliedx for its NRC licensw forthat facility. It has yet to seek permissiobnfrom S.C.
regulators for it. The plant, usinfg two AP1000 nuclear reactors designedby Westinghouse, is expecte d to cost more than $11 billion to not including financing costs.