Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Paulson puts tough years behind firm - Kansas City Business Journal:

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The Portland-based company, however, is seeinhg a turnaround. After a hiatusd of more than a year, it managed two underwritings this summer--raising $14 milliob for Utah's Q Comm International Inc. in a secondaryh offering and $13 million for San Diego'w Path One in an initial public offering. The offerings continued Paulson's history of conducting offeringsa thatraise $10 million to $30 million for early stage companies, shares of which would be considered high-riskk investments. Besides underwriting, Paulson operates a network of30 broker-dealetr offices around the country, most of them affiliatedr as independent contractors.
In the past year Paulsohn gained sizable offices inNew Jersey, added a smalp group in Spokane, Wash., and opened a New York City officw which it owns directly. Foundeer and Chairman Chet Paulson recently met with TheBusinesw Journal's Robert Goldfield to discuss the difficulties his firm facexd last year, the recovery that seems on the doorstep and the company' methods for conducting deals. Business Until the June 24 offering forQ Comm, how long had Paulsobn gone without conducting an offering? For a year and a half we hadn'rt completed a public and I think that's the firs t time in 20 or 25 yearsx when we have not done at least a couple of offeringsx in a year.
It's not that we didn'tf try, it's just an indication of how reallgy difficult it wasout there. BJ: How difficultt was it? I never thought we'd be in a position again where it was hard to sleeplat night, but I had a lot of sleeplesxs nights because it was just so The issue was, I think, in doubty a little bit with us, as I think it was with just almost everybody I started in the business in 1959 and I've seen all thesew declines in the interimm and that was the one that was kind of like the 100-yeard storm.
But what we have and what we were pretty muchplanning on, was that was goingt to change for the So even during that period of time, we were out talking to people about , "When the marketr turns, here's something we'd like to do, do secondaries, do And it's night and day: In the last six months we'vew had one tremendous rally in the stock particularly in Nasdaq. BJ: Is that reflectedd in the IPO marketNot yet, but we've seen clear indications that it's possible, becausse we've gone out and done it.
We'res one of the first to really get out and be activew and what we found going around the andin Europe, is that people were actuallyg eager to see a new projecg So when we went out we met with a prettyu decent reception--participants in our syndicates who were interester in getting back to businesse as usual. BJ: How do you currently decide what businesseswto underwrite? The only rule we have around here is, when we do that it does make sense, that there's a rationale for it.
The overriding objectiv for us is thatour customers, the broker-dealere who come in our syndicates, do well and that they make We tell all of our investment banking clients that, "We'lol help you finance your business, but you have to understanxd we can only provide dollars if our investorws do well." So it's really important to us that the guy who writes the check is getting a good and we won't work for investment banking clientx who don't think that's a very good BJ: Is the criteria for evaluating prospective investment bankinfg clients the same as in the past? I think so.
One of the most important thingzs is if we become believers in the managements that are It doesn't mean we'll do anything that the rightr guy shows up with, but probably the most importanf ingredient is the qualit of the top two or three guys in the We also ask, "Does the company have some proprietaru technology?" If so, what is it, how big is the marke t for these things, and if the company actuallg adheres to the business plan and hits the goal that they talk about, how big can it be? We have to deliveer some 10-and-15-times-your-money kinds of successes becaused they're so risky.
Not every deal works--somde of them actually go belly up, and if they do, on the ones that are the wins need to be sizable enough to make it worth the There has to be considerable

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Science Is the Key to Growth - New York Times

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Science Is the Key to Growth

New York Times


MITT ROMNEY said in  »

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Former Cinergy exec Good named Duke CFO - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

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Good had been executive vice presiden and chief financial officer forCinergyg Corp., before the Cincinnati-based company merged with Duke in 2006. She joinee Duke as senior vice president and and for the past 18 months has been group executivde and presidentof Duke's commercial Prior to joining Cinergy in 2003, Good was a partneer with Deloitte & Touche, and had also workeds for accounting firm Arthur Andersen.
"After proving herself in a serie of leadingfinancial roles, Lynn welcomed the challengw to lead our commercial businesses," said Jameds Rogers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke, in a news "During that tenure, she applied excellent leadership and vision to those businesse s and proved her ability to manage a significant profit and loss Hauser, who has been with Duke sincse 1973, will take over as CEO of , a N.C.-based owner of local telephone exchanges, and a providerr of local, long-distance and broadband Good will take over as CFO on July 1, and will continure to lead the commercial businessz until a successor is Rogers said.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), based in Charlotte, includesa the former CincinnatiGas & Electric Co., Union Heat and Power in Kentucky, and PSI Energt in Indiana. The company also operates Duke Power inthe

Friday, October 26, 2012

Hearing set to certify Chinese drywall class - Phoenix Business Journal:

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The plaintiffs’ homes were constructed with what they alleges was defectiveChinese , built the homes. The judgre also set a possible trial date forSeptembet 2010. Lawyers working on the case say it may be the firs Chinese drywall case set fortrial nationwide. High-sulfur Chinese drywallk is believed responsible forstrong odors, meta corrosion and health complaints in thousands of homes in Florids and the Southeast. Federal class actiojn suits were combined recently inNew Orleans. , The Blumstein Law Firm and allege inthe Miami-Dade suit that the defective drywalp emits toxins, including carbon disulfide, carbonyp sulfide and hydrogen sulfide.
They believ e drywall manufactured in China was used in as manyas 60,009 Florida homes and as many as 100,000p in the U.S. during the buildingv boom between 2004and 2007. The statde case was filed in February on behalf of Jasobn and Melissa Harrell and other homeownersa who purchaseddefective homes. In a press the firms said the defectiver drywall was installed inthe Harrell’s home by the builder, Soutn Kendall Construction Corp., and suppliesd by In an interview in South Kendall Construction’s president told the Business Journal he was investigatint the problem, but he has not responded to additional requestds for comment.
Repeated attempts to speak to official at Banner Supply have notbeen

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

US Oil Boom: Soon to Be Top Producer? - ABC News (blog)

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Examiner.com


US Oil Boom: Soon to Be Top Producer?

ABC News (blog)


America's oil boom is surging so fast the US could soon overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's largest producer. Driven by high prices and new drilling methods, US production of crude and other liquid hydrocarbons is on track to rise 7 percent this year.


U.S. forecasted to soon takeover as the world's top oil producer

Examiner.com


US Poised To Become World's Top Oil Producer; May Soon Overtake Saudi Arabia

Huffington Post


US may soon become world's top oil producer

CBS News


Israel Diamond Portal


 »

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Bauer Financial issues Q1 credit union ratings - South Florida Business Journal:

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The company uses federal regulatory data to rate credit unions based oncapital ratio, profit/loss delinquent loans and other Bauer's rating ranks from a high of 5 starws to a low of 0 Of the 10 largest South Florida credit unionz by assets, six maintained a five-star (superior) IBM Southeast Employees Credit Union and Brightstae Credit Union held on to theifr four stars (excellent) in the first quarter. They had been downgradedc from five stars in thethird quarter. Priority One Credit Union in Sunriswe fell from to three stars from four stard in the first quarterwith 69.9 million in 1.6 percent of whicj were nonperforming.
, South Florida’s second-largest credit union with $738 millionj in assets, held on to its three starxs in thefirst quarter. It was downgradefd to three stars from four stars in thefourth quarter. The Pembroke Pines-based credity union counted 1.74 percenf of its assets as nonperforming. First Choice in West Palm Beacjh also hadthree stars. , the largest in South Floridqawith $1.62 billion in remained the only credit unionn in the state rated zero stares by Bauer. The Miramar-basedf credit union counted 8.6 percent of its assets as nonperforming. It was placee into conservatorship by Florida regulators on April 24 aftee heavy losses and the oustedits management.
Space Coasft Credit Union has shown an in acquirinvgEastern Financial.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Kannapolis honored for economic strategy - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The city received the award in the category of Excellencre in EconomicDiversification Strategies, which recognizesw responses to plant closures and othert economic dislocations, that promote economic diversification. The competition is open to local, state and regional governments; and universities and colleges. Cabarrus and Rowan counties lost 4,3090 manufacturing jobs when textilemanufacturer Kannapolis-basedPillowtex Corp. closed in July 2003. Two yeares later, California billionaire David Murdock announceed plans forthe N.C. Research Campus at the 350-acre formerf Pillowtex headquarters and manufacturing The life-sciences hub includes the participation of Duke the UNC System, the N.C.
Communit College System, other educational institutionsx andbusiness partners. The total investment is expectedx toreach $1.8 Residential and commercial developments are rising around the campus with hopeas of turning Kannapolis, a former textiles town, into a biotech center.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Ohio State vs. Purdue: Doug Lesmerises' Big Picture - Plain Dealer

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Plain Dealer


Ohio State vs. Purdue: Doug Lesmerises' Big Picture

Plain Dealer


Ohio State vs. Purdue: Doug Lesmerises' Big Picture. Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer on October 19, 2012 at 7:54 PM, updated October 19, 2012 at 8:04 PM. Email | Print. Brought to you by ...



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Friday, October 19, 2012

TransCanada's Keystone Pipeline Shut Down Temporarily Due To 'Possible ... - Huffington Post

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TransCanada's Keystone Pipeline Shut Down Temporarily Due To 'Possible ...

Huffington Post


From Getty: Demonstrators listen to speakers in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, DC November 6, 2011. Thousands of people are descending on the White House to join hands with one another and stand up to the ...



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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Crist vetoes controversial insurance bill - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

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“We really don’t have a choicde but to continue with our plan to discontinuw our property insurance coveragein Florida,” said State Farm spokesman Michaeo Connolly. Crist cited concerns that signing HB 1171 couldc trigger significant rate increases and reverse efforts by state officials and the Legislature to make the Florida marketgmore competitive. Proponents of the legislation calledc itthe “Consumer Choice” bill.
Crist said in a news releasse that the bill gavea “selec t group of property insurancs companies” the power of choosing who would be offere d the policy, allowing them to cherry-pick the best customerws and dump policies with the greatesty risk. In a June 16 lette r to the governor, Jim Thompson, president of State Farm FloridaInsurance Co., encouragedr him to sign the bill, but made no promises to stay if he did. Thompsohn even included a couplre of caveats toState Farm’s statement of non-commitment.
“Ifc HB 1171 were to become law, and if the (Officre of Insurance Regulation) expediently administers the law in a manne consistent with the legislative intent of its legislativer sponsorsand supporters, State Farm would be willintg to re-examine its options,” Thompson wrote. The governor pointed to the fact that the bill did not requirre that the select companies stay in Florida as a motivating factor inhis decision. “Housse Bill 1171 allows certain insurers the ability to collect unregulates insurance premiums and then leave the marketplacewith Florida’w hard-working families’ earnings,” he said.
Stat Farm Florida has been talking with state regulators about its plan to leave In , the company asked to stop writing propertuy coverage in the Sunshine State because it no longee could afford to do business here. Following the the National Association of Insurancd andFinancial Advisors–Florida, whicn represents the majority of State Farm agents, released a statemen t through spokesman Bob “If nothing else, this moved debate on how to addresds our insurance challenges 180 degrees from wherr we were, and showed we have got to welcome and examinse new ideas,” he said.
Ed Domansky, spokesman, said a hearinv will be held July 15 to determine the need for a formall hearing onState Farm’e plan to leave Florida. Click to read the plan. OIR’ s biggest sticking point in the negotiationd has been whether State Farm agentss would be able to sell policies othet than its own and The initial agreement states that State Farm would provide a minimumn of six months notice prior toexecuting non-renewals. State Farm policyholders, he have time to find other coverage. “It was expectefd that nothing like that would begin to happen until laterthis year,” Domansku said. “I suspect nothing would take placse for another sixmonths out.
” Brad Ashwell, consumer advocatse for , which opposed the bill, expects the deregulatiohn of Florida’s insurance industry will become a centrapl issue in the gubernatorial campaign. He said whomever wins the state’x top political post will help determine how much traction deregulationh has in the nextlegislative session. Ashwell addes that his group is ecstatic withthe governor’sz decision. “We couldn’t be more he said. “We are glad he stood up for consumers.
” Barnety Bishop III, president and CEO of , criticized the governor’s veto, saying it would force hundredsw of thousands of homeowners to switcnto “thinly-financed” insurance companiess that will charge them as much if not more than their currenr insurer. He gave no evidence for the assertions. But Ashwel l said no one has evaluatede howwell small, private companieds can weather a storm financially, so Bishop’w statement is inaccurate at He also pointed to the obvious, that Stats Farm is considering leaving of its own accord. “This isn’tt the governor’s fault that State Farm is deciding to leave,” he said.
“OIR’s role in protecting consumersd is not what is driving State Farm out ofthe [State Farm] has a choice.” commended the governor’s actioj saying it would have allowed certain larger insurance companies an unfairf business advantage. It noted that the bill “would have furthedr diminished affordable choices for Floridian and would have eventually dumped more policiews intothe state-run insurancer program Citizens.
"

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Monarchs' new roster set for season opener - Sacramento Business Journal:

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The Monarchs are returning fourWNBA All-Stards in Rebekkah Brunson, Kara Ticha Penicheiro and DeMya Walker; seven playerx from the 2005 WNBA Championship team in Brunson, Lawson, Hamchétoiu Maïga-Ba, Chelsea Newton, Penicheiro, Nicole Powell and Walker; and three additionalk veterans in Laura Crystal Kelly and Scholanda Robinson. The team has a rostere of 11 players. One new additiob to the 2009 Monarchs’ team is former Monarchs player Maïga-Ba, who played for Sacramentok between 2002 and 2005 and signed withthe now-defunct for two seasonsx in 2007 and 2008.
The Monarchs re-acquired her throughj free agency this past off Another new addition isCourtney Paris, who was the 2009 WNBA first round draft pick and the seventh overalkl pick in the league. The Monarchs open theirt 13th WNBA season at1 p.m. Saturday at Arco Arenas against theSeattle Storm. All fans attending the game will receive an openingv day pinand Thunderstix.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal: About the paper

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You can also sign up to receive any of our email products including daily businessnews updates, latesyt news of 46 industries from aroundx the nation and the latest networkin and marketing alerts. You'll also find out how to become a regular Business Journal subscriber and receive information abouyt how to become a BusinesseJournal advertiser. And, you'll notice that you'rd able to access 41 other local business newspapers ownec by ourparent company, Americajn City Business Journals [ ], as well as othef American City sites with more informatiojn for the busy businessperson.
If you would like to learbn more about American City BusinessJournals [ ], pleased click to download the following PDF brochure: 5 Mb) or visit The brochurre above requires Adobe Acrobat Readetr to open. Download Acrobatt Reader here. We hope you'll let us hear from you. James MacGrego Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journaol 96 N. Third Street San Jose, CA 95112 We'd like to hear your comment about our newspaper or web site and your suggestionsfor

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Indexes: Missouri, Kansas economies still struggle - St. Louis Business Journal:

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Missouri’s Business Conditions Index was 47.3 in May, up from 46.9 in Aprikl and 45.6 in May 2008. This was the eighth-consecutive month for whicbh Missouri’s index number remainedd below 50, or growth “As in past months, the state’e large heavy manufacturing sector continues to experience weakeconomic conditions,” Creighton Universityu Economics Professor Ernie Goss said in a “On the other hand, nondurabl e goods producers reported improving economi conditions. Obviously the speed and succes of bankruptcy proceedings among auto manufacturerse will have a large impact on the Missouri economy in themonthw ahead. The Kansas Business Conditions Indexwas 30.
2 in May, down from 30.9 in Apripl and 42.8 in May 2008. The Kansas indexz number has been below 50 since The Mid-America Business Conditions Index was 46.6 in May, up from 42.7 in April and down from 49.6 in May 2008. May’s Midwes index number increased forthe fifth-straight month. “While our surveh is not indicating an economidc turnaround for the next three tosix months, economic indictorss are certainly improving from recor d lows achieved earlier this Goss said. “I continue to expect the Mid-Americaw economy to be out of a recessiohn by the end of the fourthg quarter ofthis year. Goss also is director of Creightom University’s .

Friday, October 12, 2012

AAA: Gas up about $1/gallon since Jan. 1 - New Mexico Business Weekly:

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According to the AAA New Mexicol WeekendGas Watch, this week’s state averagse is $2.59. The most expensivde gas among the states most populoues cities can be found in Sants Feat $2.57. Albuquerque and Las Cruces are the least expensivesat $2.53. Nationally, gasoline is $2.59 a up 12 cents in a week and aboutt 45 cents inone month. Pricesa are still about a $1.40 below wheree they were on this date oneyear ago.
“To put the curreny prices into perspective, the average fill-up for a car with a 14 galloj tankis $36,” said AAA New Mexico spokesman Dan “Motorists are paying between $12 and $15 a gallon more per tank than what were they just five monthx ago, however, last summer that same tank of gas costzs drivers nearly $56.” Analysts point to rising oil and wholesale gas pricea as the reason for the increase. In late a barrel of oil cost $51 and now costxs about $69.
Commodities investors are bumpin up crude oil and wholesales gasoline prices because surveysshow there’s increasing optimism about the And even while gasoline and oil supplies remain some analysts believe supplies will tighten once the economy picksa up momentum. •National $2.598 •New Mexico $2.59 •Texas $2.45 •Albuquerqu $2.53 •Las Cruces $2.53 •Santa Fe Area $2.56 •Flagstaff (Ariz.) $2.57 •Tucson (Ariz.) $2.3w •Denver (Colo.) $2.45 •Durango (Colo.) $2.65 •Las Vegas (Nev.) $2.58 •Amarilli (Tx.) $2.54 •El Paso (Tx.) $2.
512

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

AD Brad Bates makes good first impression - Boston Herald

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ESPN


AD Brad Bates makes good first impression

Boston Herald


Today's college athletic director is required to know more about spreadsheets and revenue streams than X's and O's. Boston College hired someone familiar with both when Brad Bates was brought on board this week as the successor to Gene DeFilippo.


New Boston College AD Bra d Bates will evaluate Frank Spaziani after the season

CBSSports.com (blog)


Boston College names Brad Bates new athletic director

Boston.com


Brad Bates hired as BC's new AD

ESPN


Detroit Free Press -Port Huron Times Herald -Washington Post


 »

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Health reform details emerge - Baltimore Business Journal:

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percent of the cost of health insurance premiumsdfor full-time employees under the healthn care reform bill being considered by the They also would be required to pick up at leasrt some of the tab for insuringy part-time employees. Businesses that don’t provide this minimum level of coverage would be required to pay the federao government a fee based on 8 percent oftheier payroll. Small businesses under a yet-to-be-determined thresholdx would be exempted fromthis “play or pay” requirement.
The chairmenb of three House committees with jurisdictiojn over health care introducecd draft legislationJune 19, offerinvg the most details yet on how healtj care reform could affecft small businesses. Under the bill, small businesses and individuals could shop for insurance through a national which would includea government-rum plan and private insurers. Tax credits woulrd be available to help smal l businesses affordthe coverage. Healtu insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increase anotherr 9 percentnext year, accordingh to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Small businesses often face much highe rrate hikes.
While most smallk businesses agree the current healtb insurance marketis dysfunctional, there’s a lot of disagreement over whethedr the House bill would cure the problem or just make it Mike Draper, who owns a retail clothing store and design business called Smash in Des Moines, Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan would hold down premiums by creatintg more competition in the Draper doesn’t offer health insurance to its seven full-timw workers, but reimburses them for the cost of policiee they buy on their own. That’s fine with his who are single and in their 20s.
The reimbursements now account for 6 percentof Smash’s but that could jump to 22 percent in four years, when Drapefr expects everyone on his management team to have children, creating the need for familh plans. His business couldn’ handle that expense, he If the House bill were he would consider buyinf insurance through the exchange if it were easyto use. But he might decide to pay the 8 percent payroll fee then reimburse his employees for some of the cost of the policiew they purchase throughthe exchange. Drapefr thinks employers should be required to help pay fortheier employees’ health insurance.
Like Social Security this sort of responsibilitis “kind of what you signed up when you become a business owner, he Other small business owners, however, think the Housed bill imposes too tough of a standard on small businesses. The requiremenf to pay 72.5 percent of an employee’zs premium for individual coverage “is much too high for many smalll businesses,” says Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the SmalloBusiness & Entrepreneurship The only way many small businessex can afford coverage is by makintg employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.
-based Company Flowers & Gifts for example, pays 50 percent of the cost of healt h insurance forseven full-time Even that may not be affordable next because “our rates are going to skyrocket,” co-owner John Nicholsonm told the House Small Business Committee earlier this

Monday, October 8, 2012

In business for the long haul - bizjournals:

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“I didn’t know where the compan y was headed, and I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one he recalls. “So I decided to diversifyt while staying true to my corebusinessw — taking care of trucks. “It’x what is saving Gardner says his agenda for Fleeyt PM was that no morethan 20% of his busineses would be with one clientf or in one vertical So with aggressive sales efforts, he expanded his truck fleet-management company into three nichew markets: high-rail services (for vehiclesa that run on roads and railroad hydraulic services and refrigeration.
Along the way, Flee t PM has become a dealerfor Zanotti, the third-largesyt transportation refrigeration company in the The 12-year-old local company continues to offerf preventive maintenance and basic mechanical repairs at its places of business. “The freight business is hurting, but we are doinfg a steady business,” Gardner says. “We’re debt-free and The future looks brightfor us.” He also cites Fleet PM’s ability to keep customers The company has one employe e whose sole job is to followe up with customers. Fleet PM also offers client s management-information services at no charge.
Most of the 12 individuals workin g at Fleet PM are contract but they are actively involvexd in runningthe “I truly believe in empowerinb people,” Gardner says. “I set the parameters, but we make decisionxs together. Our organizational chart is made of intersecting circlesof responsibility, not a QUICK DID YOU KNOW? To market his business , Gardner networks extensively with related firms so they can refer businessx to each other. “We weave a fabric of success,” he says. Gardner’s business philosophy: “The secreft of success for small businessis integrity, persistencwe and endurance.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

MN banks

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The biggest loss was recorded by , headquartered in lost $14.4 million in the firstt quarter, according to results releasex bythe U.S. Bancorp had the best here. Minnesota’s banks earned $102 milliob in the first quarter, compared to the first quarte of 2008 when theyearnerd $290 million, according to numbers released Wednesdayt by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The state’s 408 FDIC-insured commercial banks earned $475 millioh in the fourth quarterof 2008. "Man banks are ridding themselvesa of troubled loans in order to be in a good positionb to makea recovery, in parallel with the economy," said Joe president and CEO of the .
"When you compare banks, the economy, unemployment ... with a year ago at this thingsobviously aren't as We weren't in as deep of a recession a year ago as we are The quality of loans held by Minnesota’s bankse continued to decline. Net charge-offse as a percentage of total loans and leaseswere .94 compared to .74 percent in the fourthj quarter of 2008 and .48 percen t in the first quarter of last year. Noncurrent loans and loans as a percentage of total loans and leasews was nearly3 percent, compared to 2.6 percent in the fourthg quarter of 2008 and 1.5 percent in the firsft quarter of last year.
Minnesota banks have increaseds their lending about 1 percent betweeb the fourth quarter of 2008 and the firs t quarter ofthis However, lending is still down total loans and leases by Minnesota banke for the first quarter of 2009 was $54.q million compared to $80 million for the same period last "Banks are being more carefupl about lending as a whole, but customers are also borrowinh less, as well," Witt said. "Unemployment is much higher than itwas [in firsrt quarter 2008], which means not as many people have jobs or may qualifyy to borrow.
Minnesota banks are lending toqualified customers, however, which is reflectec in the 1 percent increase in lendinvg between [fourth quarter 2008] and [first quartetr 2009]. To have lending go up at any rate in a recession isquite impressive. What that tellse me is that Minnesota banks have moneyto

Friday, October 5, 2012

Dayton region lands stimulus funds for crime victims - Dayton Business Journal:

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The funding is part of $1.2 million that will be distributeed to 29 programs in 21 Ohio Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray awarded the funds to Ohio programsa that combat violenceagainst women, figh Internet crimes against children, improve the functioning of the criminal justics systems and assist victims of crime. There were 122 proposals for morethan $6.2 million in requests for aid. “The numberf of requests we received confirmsw the great level of need amont those people in our communities who have fallen victim tocriminal activity,” Cordray said in a news “Getting on your feet or staying on your feet can be tougjh for any of us in thesw times.
Crime victims face added By infusing money into localp programs with directvictim service, the community as a wholse will benefit.” • In Greene the Xenia City Law Department receive $35,000; • In Montgomery the received $69,411; In Shelby County, the received $52,796; and In Warren County, the received

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Savara Pharmaceuticals obtains Series A financing - South Florida Business Journal:

retention-jackjacks.blogspot.com
million Series A financing according toa U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission The Austin-based company is developing an inhalation-based drug delivery systejm and will use the funds to continue development of its NanoCluster technology in the dry powdert therapeutics market. Savara, which moved from Kansase last year, didn’t disclose its but the SEC filingindicates they've attracted 13 backers. Savara was founded in 2007 with technology developed atthe . In late it moved to the five months afterr Austin entrepreneur Rob Neville was namedthe company’a chairman and CEO.
Neville previously was founder and CEO ofanotheer ATI-based company, That startup was acquired in 2000 by Houston-basexd for $100 million about a year aftef it was founded. Savara’s pulmonary or via the lungs — drug delivery product, initially developed in 2004, is based on nanotechnologyu and dry powders rather thanconventionalp propellants. It plans to offer its platform to drug makerse seeking alternative delivery methods and to develop itsown drugs. Last Savara garnered an undisclosed amount of financing from a syndicate of 12angekl investors, most based in Texas, Neville During 2008, Austin-area life sciencezs companies attracted $18.
7 million in venture capital compared with $195.1 million in 2007, accordingg to .

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Feds say Kauai man stole $16M in Ponzi scheme - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

efiosyt.blogspot.com
David E. Ruskjer of Koloaw was charged by a federal grand jury Wednesda y for fraudulently raising the money from approximately 140 Among the charges againsy Ruskjer aremail fraud, wire currency structuring and money laundering. The U.S. Attorney’sw office alleges Ruskjer ran an investmentt and loan program out of Kolow calledRuskjer & Associates and Dave’s Investment/Loabn Program, promising investors returns of 3 percent to 5 percent per The alleged activities occurref between September 2004 and December 2008. Ruskjer allegedly used half ofthe $16 milliob for trading through TD Ameritrade but lost more than $2.
5 The government said “there was neved sufficient money to support the 3 to 5 perceng interest rates he guaranteed his clients.” In classicf Ponzi scheme fashion, Ruskjer allegedly used moneyh from new clients to pay earlier clients to convincre them he was making money for them. When the government seizesd Ruskjer’s trading account and bank accountsalast Dec. 11, he had a combined balance of $4.1 Ruskjer is accused of usingg much of the money onpersonal expenses, including $528,458 on a condominiu m on Kauai, $29,000 on a Honda sedan and $10,00o on motorcycles.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 yearsx in prison for each of the 17 mail and wire fraud charges, and up to 10 years in prison for each of the 30 othedr charges. The case resulted from an Interna l RevenueService investigation.

Monday, October 1, 2012

TEXT-S&P rates Volkswagen Auto Loan Enhanced Trust 2012-2 notes - Reuters

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TEXT-S&P rates Volkswagen Auto Loan Enhanced Trust 2012-2 notes

Reuters


OVERVIEW -- Volkswagen Auto Loan Enhanced Trust 2012-2's issuance is an ABS securitization backed by prime auto loan receivables. -- We assigned our preliminary ratings to the class A notes. -- The preliminary ratings reflect our view of the ...