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Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Constar International is one of the largesrt suppliers ofPET (polyethylene plastic containers for conventional applications throughout Northh America and Europe. Conventional PET containers are primarilyt designed and manufactured for soft drinkzand water. Constar also has an expanding position in the growingy customPET market, designed for food, juices, sport drinks, new age beverages, beer and flavored alcoholic beverages. Our customerse include major brand marketers in the beveragse andfood industries.
Constar is a packaginy solutions leader, designing and manufacturing innovativre methods for customers to address their production andmarketiny challenges. A pioneer of the PET bottle Constar began manufacturing plastic bottles in 1963 asSewelkl Plastics. We were a major participant in the rapid growth of two litert PET soft drinks bottles in theearly 1980s. Constar was also a major participant in the introduction of singlr serve soft drink bottles for convenience salesx inthe 1990s, as well as the developmengt of the bottled water market.
Constarf continues to be an innovatoe in applying PET technology to newpackaging
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Public sector procurement oil tanker is on the move - The Guardian
dyakonostrlin.blogspot.com
The Guardian | Public sector procurement oil tanker is on the move The Guardian Third, the review of NHS procurement, led by Sir Ian Carruthers and to be published at the end of this year, seems likely to lead to change that other parts of the wider public sector will find difficult to ignore. Some of the issues driving the review ... Unhe althy practices in NHS procurement |
Monday, November 26, 2012
Asset sale at WaMu? - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
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owns its portion of the 42-story high-rise tower it builg in partnership withthe , or approximately 944,00o square feet of space, according to its annual report. Greg Johnson, president of real estate development and management firmWrightg Runstad, thinks there would be stron interest among foreign and domestic institutionalp investors in the building should it be put on the “They would view it as a terrific opportunity at the righty price,” Johnson said. “To own a really high-quality asset in a high-quality market like Seattle, with fabulous views, attractive architecture — that would compete very favorably with othetr downtownoffice buildings.
” An acquisition of WaMu appeared increasinglgy likely as this edition went to press. The company was reportedly assessingits options, includinb raising more money or finding a buyer. Completed in 2006, the headquarters building WaMuCenter — is locaterd in the 1300 block of Second Avenue. Washington Mutual officials were not immediatelyt availablefor comment. The split ownershi of the property is not likely to bother apotentiakl buyer. Mixed-use ownership has becomee relatively common inrecent years, said Johnson. More troublesomwe is setting a price on the The most recent office building sales in Seattlew occurred before theeconomy soured.
Boston-base d Beacon Capital paid what brokers estimatwewas $450 per square foot for the Equityy Office Properties portfolio of properties in downtown Seattle and Bellevue. That would put the value of WaMu Centee at as highas $425 million, brokere estimate. At the time it was the estimated construction cost forthe 42-story tower was $350 However, given the current economic climate, “it’zs unlikely someone would pay the same today. They woulds pay something less,” said “There’s not been any other big building sold in this currenr market so it woul d be difficult to project its Johnson said.
The EOP portfolipo sale was based onsome “very optimistic rent growth Johnson said. But the market has softened since with 3 million square feet of office space currentlyh under construction with expected delivery datewin 2009. While there couldf be other pre-leasing activity, tenants have been announced for just 5 percentt ofthat space, according to a recent reporty from Grubb & Ellis commercial real estate firm. WaMu or a successotr could borrow money with the headquarters building as collateral or do a sellingthe Seattle-based thrift’s headquarters and leasing back space needed for operations.
Given the downgradinh of its bonds tojunk status, WaMu’s creditworthiness coulrd be a problem, according to Johnson. “Im a sale-leaseback of a building, a big determinantf of the value of the buildintg is the credit of the Johnson said. “It was a viable strategy when they were healthgy asa bank, but as their bond rating has the viability of a sale-leaseback went way down.” Shouled another healthier bank buy WaMu, then a sale-leaseback woulxd become a better option for that buyer because WaMu woulc benefit from the buyer’s crediy rating, Johnson said.
Meanwhile brokers are watching what happensd with a substantial amount of space leased by Washington Mutual in six downtownmoffice buildings. For some months, WaMu has slid a significany amount — 185,000 square feet of office space it leasee back on the market for The bulk of the space has been on the markert for a while and is not related tothe thrift’s most recent financial woes, said Dan Flinn, a principal in the tenanyt representative firm Corporate Real Estate.
Should WaMu be Flinn expects all of the office space WaMu leaseds outside itsheadquarters — 543,000 square feet will be put up for
owns its portion of the 42-story high-rise tower it builg in partnership withthe , or approximately 944,00o square feet of space, according to its annual report. Greg Johnson, president of real estate development and management firmWrightg Runstad, thinks there would be stron interest among foreign and domestic institutionalp investors in the building should it be put on the “They would view it as a terrific opportunity at the righty price,” Johnson said. “To own a really high-quality asset in a high-quality market like Seattle, with fabulous views, attractive architecture — that would compete very favorably with othetr downtownoffice buildings.
” An acquisition of WaMu appeared increasinglgy likely as this edition went to press. The company was reportedly assessingits options, includinb raising more money or finding a buyer. Completed in 2006, the headquarters building WaMuCenter — is locaterd in the 1300 block of Second Avenue. Washington Mutual officials were not immediatelyt availablefor comment. The split ownershi of the property is not likely to bother apotentiakl buyer. Mixed-use ownership has becomee relatively common inrecent years, said Johnson. More troublesomwe is setting a price on the The most recent office building sales in Seattlew occurred before theeconomy soured.
Boston-base d Beacon Capital paid what brokers estimatwewas $450 per square foot for the Equityy Office Properties portfolio of properties in downtown Seattle and Bellevue. That would put the value of WaMu Centee at as highas $425 million, brokere estimate. At the time it was the estimated construction cost forthe 42-story tower was $350 However, given the current economic climate, “it’zs unlikely someone would pay the same today. They woulds pay something less,” said “There’s not been any other big building sold in this currenr market so it woul d be difficult to project its Johnson said.
The EOP portfolipo sale was based onsome “very optimistic rent growth Johnson said. But the market has softened since with 3 million square feet of office space currentlyh under construction with expected delivery datewin 2009. While there couldf be other pre-leasing activity, tenants have been announced for just 5 percentt ofthat space, according to a recent reporty from Grubb & Ellis commercial real estate firm. WaMu or a successotr could borrow money with the headquarters building as collateral or do a sellingthe Seattle-based thrift’s headquarters and leasing back space needed for operations.
Given the downgradinh of its bonds tojunk status, WaMu’s creditworthiness coulrd be a problem, according to Johnson. “Im a sale-leaseback of a building, a big determinantf of the value of the buildintg is the credit of the Johnson said. “It was a viable strategy when they were healthgy asa bank, but as their bond rating has the viability of a sale-leaseback went way down.” Shouled another healthier bank buy WaMu, then a sale-leaseback woulxd become a better option for that buyer because WaMu woulc benefit from the buyer’s crediy rating, Johnson said.
Meanwhile brokers are watching what happensd with a substantial amount of space leased by Washington Mutual in six downtownmoffice buildings. For some months, WaMu has slid a significany amount — 185,000 square feet of office space it leasee back on the market for The bulk of the space has been on the markert for a while and is not related tothe thrift’s most recent financial woes, said Dan Flinn, a principal in the tenanyt representative firm Corporate Real Estate.
Should WaMu be Flinn expects all of the office space WaMu leaseds outside itsheadquarters — 543,000 square feet will be put up for
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Analyst: YRC bankruptcy is
mcfarlainofuqub1258.blogspot.com
The Overland Park trucking company’s ongoing negotiationz with the union are at riskof failing, analyst Art Hatfieldc said in a note. “Giveh the developments with the negotiations betweenn the two parties and the increasinh uncertainty pertaining to the outcome ofthose negotiations, we believe a bankruptcy at YRC Worldwidwe is still likely in the near to mid-term,” he While the parties have kept quiet abourt the talks, YRC reportedly wante to end its union pension payment for 14 months, which woul d provide savings of $500 million, and not make up for While that proposal would offerd YRC significant and badly needed liquidity during the it “would face a tough and challengingt road to becoming a reality,” Hatfield “From what we know, YRC would not be concedinvg anything material to the pensiobn plans and/or its Teamsters employees under the propos al,” he “Additionally, if the proposal goes on to a vote to the Teamster-representee employees at YRC, we believ the likelihood of a favorable vote would be low at given that the employees would be the ones to feel the brunyt of these terminated payments over the long term ...
and that securityu provisions and protections for Teamsters employee s are not part of the concessions made by thecompany (to our knowledge).” In addition, Hatfields wrote, the Teamsters probably want paymentr deferrals instead, which woul d be difficult for YRC because its lenderxs probably would be reluctant to let the companyh tie up assets or real estates as collateral. And YRC probably has little left to offedras collateral, he Hatfield changed his ratingf on YRC shares from “Market Perform” to “Noy Rated.” YRC began the recent concessions talks with the Teamsterss on June 29.
The price of YRC stock YRCW) plunged Wednesday, droppinv as low as 89 cents to hita 52-weeki low. The previous 52-week low was $1.20 on Nov. 20, according to . YRC closedr on Wednesday at 89 down35 cents, or 28 on volume of 20.2 million shares. The stock’s average daily volume the past three monthsis 3.6 milliobn shares. Overland Park-based YRC, which has roughly 49,000 employeea — more than half of them union memberes — has been weighed down by debt and a lengthyfreighty recession, and lost $257.4 million in the firs quarter. It has integrated subsidiaries, shut down laid off workers and sold property to try to cut cost andmaintain liquidity.
Early this year, Teamsters members agreed to a 10 percent wage cut and suspensionof cost-of-livingh adjustments through 2013 in exchange for a 15 percent stake in the company. YRC also has been negotiating to defer union pension fund paymentas using company real estate as collateral and on June 18 secureds an agreement with the largesty pension fund todefer $83 millionh in payments. The union has said it also is reachinv out tostakeholders — such as pension fundds and YRC’s lenders — to address the cash issue. YRC rankse No. 2 on the Kansas City Business Journak ’s list of area public companies.
The Overland Park trucking company’s ongoing negotiationz with the union are at riskof failing, analyst Art Hatfieldc said in a note. “Giveh the developments with the negotiations betweenn the two parties and the increasinh uncertainty pertaining to the outcome ofthose negotiations, we believe a bankruptcy at YRC Worldwidwe is still likely in the near to mid-term,” he While the parties have kept quiet abourt the talks, YRC reportedly wante to end its union pension payment for 14 months, which woul d provide savings of $500 million, and not make up for While that proposal would offerd YRC significant and badly needed liquidity during the it “would face a tough and challengingt road to becoming a reality,” Hatfield “From what we know, YRC would not be concedinvg anything material to the pensiobn plans and/or its Teamsters employees under the propos al,” he “Additionally, if the proposal goes on to a vote to the Teamster-representee employees at YRC, we believ the likelihood of a favorable vote would be low at given that the employees would be the ones to feel the brunyt of these terminated payments over the long term ...
and that securityu provisions and protections for Teamsters employee s are not part of the concessions made by thecompany (to our knowledge).” In addition, Hatfields wrote, the Teamsters probably want paymentr deferrals instead, which woul d be difficult for YRC because its lenderxs probably would be reluctant to let the companyh tie up assets or real estates as collateral. And YRC probably has little left to offedras collateral, he Hatfield changed his ratingf on YRC shares from “Market Perform” to “Noy Rated.” YRC began the recent concessions talks with the Teamsterss on June 29.
The price of YRC stock YRCW) plunged Wednesday, droppinv as low as 89 cents to hita 52-weeki low. The previous 52-week low was $1.20 on Nov. 20, according to . YRC closedr on Wednesday at 89 down35 cents, or 28 on volume of 20.2 million shares. The stock’s average daily volume the past three monthsis 3.6 milliobn shares. Overland Park-based YRC, which has roughly 49,000 employeea — more than half of them union memberes — has been weighed down by debt and a lengthyfreighty recession, and lost $257.4 million in the firs quarter. It has integrated subsidiaries, shut down laid off workers and sold property to try to cut cost andmaintain liquidity.
Early this year, Teamsters members agreed to a 10 percent wage cut and suspensionof cost-of-livingh adjustments through 2013 in exchange for a 15 percent stake in the company. YRC also has been negotiating to defer union pension fund paymentas using company real estate as collateral and on June 18 secureds an agreement with the largesty pension fund todefer $83 millionh in payments. The union has said it also is reachinv out tostakeholders — such as pension fundds and YRC’s lenders — to address the cash issue. YRC rankse No. 2 on the Kansas City Business Journak ’s list of area public companies.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Plaxico Burress To Visit Steelers - ESPN
iqukikofor.wordpress.com
SB Nation | Plaxico Burress To Visit Steelers ESPN Free-agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress is expected to visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers and take a physical with his former team, a league source told ESPN Monday. Burress traveled to Pittsburgh on Monday and will visit with the team Tuesday ... Plaxico Burress making a free agent visit to the Steelers Reports: Ex-Green Run star Burress to visit Steelers Report: Plaxico Burress To Visit The Steelers |
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Religion column: Religious oppression on the increase - Greenfield Vedette
eragywaqer.wordpress.com
Religion column: Religious oppression on the increase Greenfield Vedette Religion column: Religious oppression on the increase; A tide of oppression has been rising. The mission group Gospel for Asia estimates that persecution against Christians has increased by 400 percent over the past decade in the "10/40 window." ... |
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Marc Andreessen starts $300M VC fund - Triangle Business Journal:
mcfarlainofuqub1258.blogspot.com
billion. While the actual news that Andreessen-Horowitz was being formed was broken in February on the Charlis RoseTV show, details and the officiao launch came on Monday. On his blog, Andreessenh wrote: "Between the two of us, Ben and I have starteds threecompanies directly, created many new productes and services, run operating businesses at high levelzs of scale, angel invested in 45 tech startups in the last five and served on a broad cross-section of company boardas with some of the best entrepreneurs and investors in the Through all this, we have workeed closely together for 15 years, and we coul d not be more excited to extendr our partnership into venture The new firm will invest anywherd from $50,000 to $50 million, Andreesseb wrote, in consumer Internet, business Internet (cloud "software as a service"), mobile softwarr and services, software-powered consumer electronics , infrastructurs and applications software, networking, storage, databases, and othert back-end systems.
Most of the money will be investee in startups inSilicon Valley, following in the VC tradition of wanting to be within a few minutes of the headquarters of the companiexs they invest in. “Wde do not think it is an accident that Googles is inMountain View, Faceboook is in Palo and Twitter is in San Francisco. We also thinkm that venture capital is a high touch activity that lends itself togeographic proximity, and our only office will be in Siliconn Valley,” Andreessen wrote on his blog.
He was also clear about what it won't inves t in: "We are almost certainly not an appropriater investor for any of thefollowinvg domains: 'clean,' 'green,' energy, life sciences (biotech, drug design, medical devices), movie production companies, consumer retail, electric rocket ships, space elevators. We do not have the firstt clue about any ofthese fields." Andreessen said he will continuwe as chairman of a social networking softwars company he co-founded, , as well as remai n on the board at and (NASDAQ:EBAY). Horowitzs is vice president and general managee of business technology optimization for softwaredat . (NYSE:HPQ).
billion. While the actual news that Andreessen-Horowitz was being formed was broken in February on the Charlis RoseTV show, details and the officiao launch came on Monday. On his blog, Andreessenh wrote: "Between the two of us, Ben and I have starteds threecompanies directly, created many new productes and services, run operating businesses at high levelzs of scale, angel invested in 45 tech startups in the last five and served on a broad cross-section of company boardas with some of the best entrepreneurs and investors in the Through all this, we have workeed closely together for 15 years, and we coul d not be more excited to extendr our partnership into venture The new firm will invest anywherd from $50,000 to $50 million, Andreesseb wrote, in consumer Internet, business Internet (cloud "software as a service"), mobile softwarr and services, software-powered consumer electronics , infrastructurs and applications software, networking, storage, databases, and othert back-end systems.
Most of the money will be investee in startups inSilicon Valley, following in the VC tradition of wanting to be within a few minutes of the headquarters of the companiexs they invest in. “Wde do not think it is an accident that Googles is inMountain View, Faceboook is in Palo and Twitter is in San Francisco. We also thinkm that venture capital is a high touch activity that lends itself togeographic proximity, and our only office will be in Siliconn Valley,” Andreessen wrote on his blog.
He was also clear about what it won't inves t in: "We are almost certainly not an appropriater investor for any of thefollowinvg domains: 'clean,' 'green,' energy, life sciences (biotech, drug design, medical devices), movie production companies, consumer retail, electric rocket ships, space elevators. We do not have the firstt clue about any ofthese fields." Andreessen said he will continuwe as chairman of a social networking softwars company he co-founded, , as well as remai n on the board at and (NASDAQ:EBAY). Horowitzs is vice president and general managee of business technology optimization for softwaredat . (NYSE:HPQ).
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