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and had announced they are unscriptef competition in which players will use Twitte r while on the trailof celebrities. on Tuesdag said that while it has signed ita non-exclusivd contract with Reveille and Brillstein,it simplyy allows them to move forward with their concept. The blog said there are multiple companies are now working on TV projectz related tothe service, so there may stilkl be a project that delves into how many characterd can be squeezed into a Twittert series. "There is no official Twitter TV show—although if thers were it would be funto cast!" the blog Reveille has been involved in scripted seriesz including "The Office" and "The Tudors.
" It has also done realityh shows including "The Biggest and "American Gladiators." Brillstein's shows include "Real Time with Bill and "The Sopranos."
пятница, 30 декабря 2011 г.
среда, 28 декабря 2011 г.
Second Life's Linden Lab sells virtual realities to businesses - Birmingham Business Journal:
budimirukaovyril.blogspot.com
The courting of companies comes at a time of renewer growthfor 6-year-old Second Life that begaj with the appointment of Mark Kingdon as CEO of Lindeh Lab in May 2008. “Enterprise is a reallyu important growth vector for usbecause (Second Life is) a really compelling platform for learning and collaboration. Especialluy today in large enterprises that aredistributed (around the world),” Kingdo n said. Over the last six Linden Lab has put togethee a team of 25 people to market and develop Second Life productse forenterprise customers.
Linden Lab, whichj does not disclose revenue but says it is hired more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employeew in eight offices aroundthe world. The compang hired close to 30 people this year and is currentl y hiring for19 positions. Basic accounts are free. The companyy makes money by selling and renting virtualreal estate, with premiumn memberships and by charging a fee on sales of Linde dollars, the currency used online. The company does not tracki the number of companiese using its services and does not charge them differently fromindividualo users, but estimates that 15 to 20 percenft of its revenue comes from enterprisexs and educational institutions.
And since April, the companyh has been testing a version of Second Lifewith , IBM, , the and other The so-called “Nebraska” version of Second which is run on an institution’sa own servers, will get wider testing this summer and is scheduled for general releass by year’s end. The pricing for the privatr version has notbeen announced. “Basefd on the level of the interest we’rd seeing, we are poised for explosivee growth,” said Amanda Van who joined Linden Lab six months ago as executive directofr ofenterprise marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for business. My role is to get that messagde out,” she said.
Van Nuys said a number of factors are helpinghher cause, including general efforts to cut traveo and meeting costs and reduced carbon footprints. IBM in particular has been an early Inlate 2008, IBM’ss Academy of Technology held a Virtual World Conferencer on Second Life for 200 top engineerx from around the world, with three keynoted speeches and 37 breakout sessions. With an initial investmenyt ofroughly $80,000, IBM estimates that it saved nearly $350,009 in travel and venue coste and lost productivity.
A couplre of months later, IBM used the virtuak spaces it created for an annual meeting of the Academ after the cancellation of a scheduled real life event in Some portions of the event also used webcasting and video Participants particularly liked the opportunity to socialize with one another invarious settings, and the company scheduled a two-houe networking event on the last day at picnic tablees on a virtual beach. Academy members gathered around drinking virtual beers and chatting while other s took virtual hang gliding or jetskiing “It was really cool in terms of the experiencee people had,” said Karen an IBM marketing executive for digital convergence.
“People walkexd away saying they felt like they were atthe event. The thingg people liked most was that they really had the ability to meet with Since then, numerous other groups within IBM have used Secon d Life dozens of times for meetings small and adhoc and planned, Keeter said. IBM now has nearlyt 100 people working on virtuaol world tools for commercial sale in Seconde Life and on other she said. The company says its in-world economy is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled morethan $120 million in U.S. up 65 percent from the same period theyear before.
Wagner James Au, the author of the book “Thw Making Of Second Life: Notess From the New World,” estimated in a blog postinyg in May 2008 that Linden Lab had between $40 million and $50 million in annual Au credited Kingdon with renewing the brand created by Phili p Rosedale, who stepped down as CEO last year and remains as chairman. “A lot of Silicon Valleuy has written SecondLife off,” he said. “The tech worlr will have to revisit Second Life as a phenomenob in the next six monthsor so.
”
The courting of companies comes at a time of renewer growthfor 6-year-old Second Life that begaj with the appointment of Mark Kingdon as CEO of Lindeh Lab in May 2008. “Enterprise is a reallyu important growth vector for usbecause (Second Life is) a really compelling platform for learning and collaboration. Especialluy today in large enterprises that aredistributed (around the world),” Kingdo n said. Over the last six Linden Lab has put togethee a team of 25 people to market and develop Second Life productse forenterprise customers.
Linden Lab, whichj does not disclose revenue but says it is hired more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employeew in eight offices aroundthe world. The compang hired close to 30 people this year and is currentl y hiring for19 positions. Basic accounts are free. The companyy makes money by selling and renting virtualreal estate, with premiumn memberships and by charging a fee on sales of Linde dollars, the currency used online. The company does not tracki the number of companiese using its services and does not charge them differently fromindividualo users, but estimates that 15 to 20 percenft of its revenue comes from enterprisexs and educational institutions.
And since April, the companyh has been testing a version of Second Lifewith , IBM, , the and other The so-called “Nebraska” version of Second which is run on an institution’sa own servers, will get wider testing this summer and is scheduled for general releass by year’s end. The pricing for the privatr version has notbeen announced. “Basefd on the level of the interest we’rd seeing, we are poised for explosivee growth,” said Amanda Van who joined Linden Lab six months ago as executive directofr ofenterprise marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for business. My role is to get that messagde out,” she said.
Van Nuys said a number of factors are helpinghher cause, including general efforts to cut traveo and meeting costs and reduced carbon footprints. IBM in particular has been an early Inlate 2008, IBM’ss Academy of Technology held a Virtual World Conferencer on Second Life for 200 top engineerx from around the world, with three keynoted speeches and 37 breakout sessions. With an initial investmenyt ofroughly $80,000, IBM estimates that it saved nearly $350,009 in travel and venue coste and lost productivity.
A couplre of months later, IBM used the virtuak spaces it created for an annual meeting of the Academ after the cancellation of a scheduled real life event in Some portions of the event also used webcasting and video Participants particularly liked the opportunity to socialize with one another invarious settings, and the company scheduled a two-houe networking event on the last day at picnic tablees on a virtual beach. Academy members gathered around drinking virtual beers and chatting while other s took virtual hang gliding or jetskiing “It was really cool in terms of the experiencee people had,” said Karen an IBM marketing executive for digital convergence.
“People walkexd away saying they felt like they were atthe event. The thingg people liked most was that they really had the ability to meet with Since then, numerous other groups within IBM have used Secon d Life dozens of times for meetings small and adhoc and planned, Keeter said. IBM now has nearlyt 100 people working on virtuaol world tools for commercial sale in Seconde Life and on other she said. The company says its in-world economy is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled morethan $120 million in U.S. up 65 percent from the same period theyear before.
Wagner James Au, the author of the book “Thw Making Of Second Life: Notess From the New World,” estimated in a blog postinyg in May 2008 that Linden Lab had between $40 million and $50 million in annual Au credited Kingdon with renewing the brand created by Phili p Rosedale, who stepped down as CEO last year and remains as chairman. “A lot of Silicon Valleuy has written SecondLife off,” he said. “The tech worlr will have to revisit Second Life as a phenomenob in the next six monthsor so.
”
понедельник, 26 декабря 2011 г.
Chilean Short-Term Rates Extend Decline on Central Bank's Repo - BusinessWeek
hegenefipa.blogspot.com
Chilean Short-Term Rates Extend Decline on Central Bank's Repo BusinessWeek 26 (Bloomberg) -- Interest rates paid by banks in Chile to borrow for short periods fell for a third day after the central bank acted to mitigate a liquidity squeeze. The monthly rate on Chilean peso term deposits due in 30 days or less slid to 0.5 ... |
суббота, 24 декабря 2011 г.
Beige Book finds signs of life in North Carolina's economy - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
tenamup.wordpress.com
The Beige Book, an anecdotal account of businesds conditions compiled by each of theFederal Reserve’s 12 district banks, said that manufacturers reportecd higher orders and shipments in the Fifth which includes North and South Carolina, Maryland, most of West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The report, releasedx Wednesday by the Fed bankin Va., also said that residential real estate agentxs saw a slight rise in home sales and that residentia l lending also grew on more purchase On the negative side, the report founds higher vacancy rates in commercial real estatse markets including Raleigh. Demand for commercial loans remainedc weak as credit quality continuedto deteriorate.
retail revenue declined as salesof big-tickeg items such as automobiles fell. Service firms reported lower salesand revenues. The report makexs several references toNortbh Carolina, though no businesses or contact are named. Among the • Several grocery stores and executivez at two central North Carolina chain department stores said revenu e and foot traffic increased inrecentr weeks. • A producer of residential doors in Nortbh Carolina told the Fed that demand had picked up which the business attributed to customers needing to replenisnhdepleted inventories.
• Tourist activity along the coast was slightlhy weaker compared to a year ago but contactes on the Outer Banks andVirginia Va. told the Fed that Memorial Day weekend bookings were somewhag stronger compared to the last Beige Book A contact from the Outer Bankes of North Carolina noted that the weddinyg industry remained strong but that rental salesw and hotel bookings were somewhat weaker thanlast year.
An agent at a Raleigh employment agency told the Fed that demande for workers would continue to be slow in the next severakl weeks due to a slowdowjn in manufacturing but that he expects work to pick up in Another Raleigh area agent expected strongeer demand due to improving confidence in thebusiness
The Beige Book, an anecdotal account of businesds conditions compiled by each of theFederal Reserve’s 12 district banks, said that manufacturers reportecd higher orders and shipments in the Fifth which includes North and South Carolina, Maryland, most of West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The report, releasedx Wednesday by the Fed bankin Va., also said that residential real estate agentxs saw a slight rise in home sales and that residentia l lending also grew on more purchase On the negative side, the report founds higher vacancy rates in commercial real estatse markets including Raleigh. Demand for commercial loans remainedc weak as credit quality continuedto deteriorate.
retail revenue declined as salesof big-tickeg items such as automobiles fell. Service firms reported lower salesand revenues. The report makexs several references toNortbh Carolina, though no businesses or contact are named. Among the • Several grocery stores and executivez at two central North Carolina chain department stores said revenu e and foot traffic increased inrecentr weeks. • A producer of residential doors in Nortbh Carolina told the Fed that demand had picked up which the business attributed to customers needing to replenisnhdepleted inventories.
• Tourist activity along the coast was slightlhy weaker compared to a year ago but contactes on the Outer Banks andVirginia Va. told the Fed that Memorial Day weekend bookings were somewhag stronger compared to the last Beige Book A contact from the Outer Bankes of North Carolina noted that the weddinyg industry remained strong but that rental salesw and hotel bookings were somewhat weaker thanlast year.
An agent at a Raleigh employment agency told the Fed that demande for workers would continue to be slow in the next severakl weeks due to a slowdowjn in manufacturing but that he expects work to pick up in Another Raleigh area agent expected strongeer demand due to improving confidence in thebusiness
четверг, 22 декабря 2011 г.
Wind turbine firm to create 100 jobs in Darke County - Business First of Columbus:
uqyvemiwu.wordpress.com
Greenville-based , which has six is embarking ona $1 million projectg that will create 100 jobs withimn three years, the state announced The is awarding a 50 percent job creation tax credit for a six-yea r term to LAH Development, worth beginning in January. LAH had been heavy into site development andbuilding fabrication. But it is morphinh to engineering, manufacturing and installation of wind turbin e assemblies on windfarm sites, according to the state. Darke Counthy Commissioner Michael Rhoades said the projectr has been wrappedin secrecy.
Rhoades suspected the projecr was related to wind farms because three wind turbine companies have suddenlyg began courting farmers in Arcanumn and Union City to covert farm land into wind The Darke County Board of Commissionersz also is providingabout $188,000 for workforcee training of about 120 employees, according to stats records. The funding slid into place after word came aboutr three weeks ago of a potential renewable energy The news promptedthe county, city and state to lock arms and brinf the project to Ohio as opposed to numerous statews including Illinois, Montana, Colorado, Arizona and officials said.
Greenville Mayor Michael Bowerw declined to comment aboutt the project until he coulsd reach the companyfor authorization. The maestrok of the project isGreg Hart, a Darke County entrepreneur, Rhoades said. Hart could not be reached for comment. LAH will purchasse an existing facilityin Greenville, with a five-year lease to manufacture, install and manage wind turbines on wind farm sitez while selling the power to according to the state. LAH plansd to hire wind turbinrepress operators, back office staff, information technology and researchy and development employees for the proposed according to the The average wage of the new jobs will be $22.34 per hour, plus $5.
83 per hour in benefits, accordingh to the state.
Greenville-based , which has six is embarking ona $1 million projectg that will create 100 jobs withimn three years, the state announced The is awarding a 50 percent job creation tax credit for a six-yea r term to LAH Development, worth beginning in January. LAH had been heavy into site development andbuilding fabrication. But it is morphinh to engineering, manufacturing and installation of wind turbin e assemblies on windfarm sites, according to the state. Darke Counthy Commissioner Michael Rhoades said the projectr has been wrappedin secrecy.
Rhoades suspected the projecr was related to wind farms because three wind turbine companies have suddenlyg began courting farmers in Arcanumn and Union City to covert farm land into wind The Darke County Board of Commissionersz also is providingabout $188,000 for workforcee training of about 120 employees, according to stats records. The funding slid into place after word came aboutr three weeks ago of a potential renewable energy The news promptedthe county, city and state to lock arms and brinf the project to Ohio as opposed to numerous statews including Illinois, Montana, Colorado, Arizona and officials said.
Greenville Mayor Michael Bowerw declined to comment aboutt the project until he coulsd reach the companyfor authorization. The maestrok of the project isGreg Hart, a Darke County entrepreneur, Rhoades said. Hart could not be reached for comment. LAH will purchasse an existing facilityin Greenville, with a five-year lease to manufacture, install and manage wind turbines on wind farm sitez while selling the power to according to the state. LAH plansd to hire wind turbinrepress operators, back office staff, information technology and researchy and development employees for the proposed according to the The average wage of the new jobs will be $22.34 per hour, plus $5.
83 per hour in benefits, accordingh to the state.
понедельник, 19 декабря 2011 г.
S&P lowers ratings on Regions, BB&T, Fifth Third, Synovus, others - San Francisco Business Times:
utyziluz.wordpress.com
The actions reflect S&P’s belief that operating conditions for the bankingf industry will become less favorable than they were in the past with greatee volatility in financial markets during credit cycles and tightetregulatory supervision, the ratings agench said in a “The industry is now in a transitiomn and likely will undergo material structurao changes; the loss content of loan portfolios should but recent capital rebuilding should help banks defragy these losses; stress tests point to more pain in the we don’t view regional banksa as being highly systemically important; and potential losses could increase beyoned our current expectations,” the S&P release Such a transition period justifies lower Rodrigo Quintanilla, S&P’s credit analyst, said in the • .
(NYSE: BBT) from A+/Watch Neg/A-q to A/Stable/A-1 • • • •
The actions reflect S&P’s belief that operating conditions for the bankingf industry will become less favorable than they were in the past with greatee volatility in financial markets during credit cycles and tightetregulatory supervision, the ratings agench said in a “The industry is now in a transitiomn and likely will undergo material structurao changes; the loss content of loan portfolios should but recent capital rebuilding should help banks defragy these losses; stress tests point to more pain in the we don’t view regional banksa as being highly systemically important; and potential losses could increase beyoned our current expectations,” the S&P release Such a transition period justifies lower Rodrigo Quintanilla, S&P’s credit analyst, said in the • .
(NYSE: BBT) from A+/Watch Neg/A-q to A/Stable/A-1 • • • •
суббота, 17 декабря 2011 г.
Johns Hopkins, Colliers Pinkard among bankrupt developer Opus East's creditors - Houston Business Journal:
onoeuqedol1902.blogspot.com
Opus, which developed more than 13 million square feet of commercial spacwe in the regionsince . The 210-page list of creditors did not specify whethefr they were securedor unsecured, nor did it say how much moneyg each was owed. Among the firm’s largest creditors is , whicu is seeking more than $25 million from Opus tied to a 160,000-square-foo t office it was building for defensecontractorr (NYSE: NOC) in Linthicum The bank sued Opus subsidiar Nursery Corner BB LLC in Anne Arundel County Circuitg Court on June 29, claiming Opus defaultec on the loan, accordintg to court documents.
In its bankruptct filing, Opus listed assets of betweenn $50 million and $100 million and liabilitiews ofbetween $100 millioj and $500 million. Other notable Baltimore-area firmzs listed included: in Baltimore; Century the Economic Alliance ofGreater Baltimore; ; Americajn Office Equipment Co. Inc.; ; ; and Klepper & Kahl LLP. The U.S. Bankruptcy Courtt in Delaware has scheduled a creditors meeting to be heldJuly 22.
Opus, which developed more than 13 million square feet of commercial spacwe in the regionsince . The 210-page list of creditors did not specify whethefr they were securedor unsecured, nor did it say how much moneyg each was owed. Among the firm’s largest creditors is , whicu is seeking more than $25 million from Opus tied to a 160,000-square-foo t office it was building for defensecontractorr (NYSE: NOC) in Linthicum The bank sued Opus subsidiar Nursery Corner BB LLC in Anne Arundel County Circuitg Court on June 29, claiming Opus defaultec on the loan, accordintg to court documents.
In its bankruptct filing, Opus listed assets of betweenn $50 million and $100 million and liabilitiews ofbetween $100 millioj and $500 million. Other notable Baltimore-area firmzs listed included: in Baltimore; Century the Economic Alliance ofGreater Baltimore; ; Americajn Office Equipment Co. Inc.; ; ; and Klepper & Kahl LLP. The U.S. Bankruptcy Courtt in Delaware has scheduled a creditors meeting to be heldJuly 22.
четверг, 15 декабря 2011 г.
GE Oil & Gas consolidates brands - Houston Business Journal:
vickreyafolori1839.blogspot.com
The move affects , and , whichj will cease to exisy as independentlynamed companies. The brands will be shifted to theproduct names. For example, GE Oil Gas will now sell a “VetcoGraty fullbore subsea wellhead system,” or a “Hydril pressurse control blowout preventer.” “The whole initiative is to really saidChau Nguyen, a Houston-based marketing managerf for drilling and production, whic essentially is a department formed from the acquisition of VetcoGray and Hydril. GE Oil & Gas acquired VetcoGrauy in January 2007for $1.9 billion, and Hydrip in April 2008 for $1.
1 “We’re taking (the brand) to the product level, holdinhg on to the value of the name but offering it througnh GE Oil & Gas,” Nguyen said. “We’rwe keeping and leveraging the
The move affects , and , whichj will cease to exisy as independentlynamed companies. The brands will be shifted to theproduct names. For example, GE Oil Gas will now sell a “VetcoGraty fullbore subsea wellhead system,” or a “Hydril pressurse control blowout preventer.” “The whole initiative is to really saidChau Nguyen, a Houston-based marketing managerf for drilling and production, whic essentially is a department formed from the acquisition of VetcoGray and Hydril. GE Oil & Gas acquired VetcoGrauy in January 2007for $1.9 billion, and Hydrip in April 2008 for $1.
1 “We’re taking (the brand) to the product level, holdinhg on to the value of the name but offering it througnh GE Oil & Gas,” Nguyen said. “We’rwe keeping and leveraging the
вторник, 13 декабря 2011 г.
Baltimore CFOs don't expect to hire in Q3 - Baltimore Business Journal:
ykyhola.blogspot.com
Of the 200 chief financial officers surveyed in theBaltimors area, 82 percent anticipate no change in hiring during the according to the Financial Hiring Index. Six percenyt of CFOs in Baltimore responded that they plan to add accountintg and finance staff during thethird quarter. Nine percenf anticipate trimming their staff duringthe quarter. CFOs surveyedc work at companies with 20 ormore employees. “Mant companies remain hesitant to commit to adding staff until they are certainm of aneconomic recovery,” said Max CEO of Menlo Park, Calif.
-basex staffing firm Robert Half International (NYSE: “In the meantime, most firms are working with theie current teams to manages key initiatives, with some employers also bringing in projecyt professionals to assist with rising workloadsa and support full-time personnel.”
Of the 200 chief financial officers surveyed in theBaltimors area, 82 percent anticipate no change in hiring during the according to the Financial Hiring Index. Six percenyt of CFOs in Baltimore responded that they plan to add accountintg and finance staff during thethird quarter. Nine percenf anticipate trimming their staff duringthe quarter. CFOs surveyedc work at companies with 20 ormore employees. “Mant companies remain hesitant to commit to adding staff until they are certainm of aneconomic recovery,” said Max CEO of Menlo Park, Calif.
-basex staffing firm Robert Half International (NYSE: “In the meantime, most firms are working with theie current teams to manages key initiatives, with some employers also bringing in projecyt professionals to assist with rising workloadsa and support full-time personnel.”
воскресенье, 11 декабря 2011 г.
Crescent Resources files Chapter 11 - New Mexico Business Weekly:
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The Charlotte-based development firm’s chief executive, Arthur Fields, has retired and will work with Crescentg in anadvisory capacity, the company says. Andresw Hede, Crescent’s chief restructuring officer, has been namec CEO. “We have been in activew discussions with our lenders and otherf stakeholders as we work towards an agreement that will brinv our capital structure in line with the current economic Hede says. Crescent has more than 5,000 according to its filing.
Its assets are estimated at morethan $1 The local projects listed in the Chapteer 11 filing include Piedmont Row and The Sanctuary at Lake Crescent says it intends to operate its continuin g businesses without any significant interruption durin the restructuring process. The compan y says that’s possible becauswe of a recentlyobtained debtor-in-possessiohn financing facility of $110 million from a group of its existinhg lenders.
As part of the Chapterr 11 filing, Crescent says it seeks court approval “tko make certain payments and to maintain key agreementsswith employees, customers, vendors and partners of continuing operationsz to ensure the company can maintain its commitment to delivering a high level of amenities and services.” Crescent says the filing is necessary to reorganizee its finances, reduce its debt level and improve its capital “We intend to reacj an agreement on our new capital structure and emerge from bankruptcty quickly,” Hede says. The Chapter 11 petitions were filed inthe U.S. Bankruptcy Courtg in the Western District of Austin division.
The company has 120 days from the filingv date to submit areorganization plan. A hot line has been set up as part of the Crescenrt restructuringat (877) 204-8611. Attorney Eric Taube of LLP in Texas, will represent Crescent in the proceedings. , Ranger Construction Co., and are amongv Crescent’s largest unsecured creditors in Charlotte. In April, the Charlotte Busines s Journal reported that Crescent had adopted an aggressive new businesas strategy driven bya $1.2 billion term loan that must be paid in full by September 2012 — selling assets at fire-sale prices. In Crescent sold 4,500 acre in Berkeley County, to for $40 million.
In December, the company sold a Floridaz apartment projectfor $11.35 million, less than half the $27 million it paid for the complexc three years earlier. This year, the firm has closed on the sale ofa 773-acrr tract of land in Oconee County, S.C., for just over $10 Locally, Crescent recently sold 18.4 acres in Fort Mill to a warehousin company for $1.6 million. The company jointly owned by and — is best known here for high-endr real estate communities such as The Peninsula and BallantyneeCountry Club. Before the Chaptet 11 filing, Crescent faced payments of $50 million by the end of this $75 million in 2010 and $100 millioj in 2011 on its debt.
The Charlotte-based development firm’s chief executive, Arthur Fields, has retired and will work with Crescentg in anadvisory capacity, the company says. Andresw Hede, Crescent’s chief restructuring officer, has been namec CEO. “We have been in activew discussions with our lenders and otherf stakeholders as we work towards an agreement that will brinv our capital structure in line with the current economic Hede says. Crescent has more than 5,000 according to its filing.
Its assets are estimated at morethan $1 The local projects listed in the Chapteer 11 filing include Piedmont Row and The Sanctuary at Lake Crescent says it intends to operate its continuin g businesses without any significant interruption durin the restructuring process. The compan y says that’s possible becauswe of a recentlyobtained debtor-in-possessiohn financing facility of $110 million from a group of its existinhg lenders.
As part of the Chapterr 11 filing, Crescent says it seeks court approval “tko make certain payments and to maintain key agreementsswith employees, customers, vendors and partners of continuing operationsz to ensure the company can maintain its commitment to delivering a high level of amenities and services.” Crescent says the filing is necessary to reorganizee its finances, reduce its debt level and improve its capital “We intend to reacj an agreement on our new capital structure and emerge from bankruptcty quickly,” Hede says. The Chapter 11 petitions were filed inthe U.S. Bankruptcy Courtg in the Western District of Austin division.
The company has 120 days from the filingv date to submit areorganization plan. A hot line has been set up as part of the Crescenrt restructuringat (877) 204-8611. Attorney Eric Taube of LLP in Texas, will represent Crescent in the proceedings. , Ranger Construction Co., and are amongv Crescent’s largest unsecured creditors in Charlotte. In April, the Charlotte Busines s Journal reported that Crescent had adopted an aggressive new businesas strategy driven bya $1.2 billion term loan that must be paid in full by September 2012 — selling assets at fire-sale prices. In Crescent sold 4,500 acre in Berkeley County, to for $40 million.
In December, the company sold a Floridaz apartment projectfor $11.35 million, less than half the $27 million it paid for the complexc three years earlier. This year, the firm has closed on the sale ofa 773-acrr tract of land in Oconee County, S.C., for just over $10 Locally, Crescent recently sold 18.4 acres in Fort Mill to a warehousin company for $1.6 million. The company jointly owned by and — is best known here for high-endr real estate communities such as The Peninsula and BallantyneeCountry Club. Before the Chaptet 11 filing, Crescent faced payments of $50 million by the end of this $75 million in 2010 and $100 millioj in 2011 on its debt.
четверг, 8 декабря 2011 г.
Online college application company files for Chapt. 11 - Baltimore Business Journal:
antoninahubihe.blogspot.com
Last year, ApplicationsOnline lost its contract as the onlines provider of theCommomn Application, used by more than 300 collegez nationwide. That blow, coupled with an ongoing patent lawsuit bycompetitor CollegeNet, led to the Chapter 11 filing on Aug. 11, the firm said in court “The Chapter 11 is a strategy for stayinin business,” president Joshua Reiter said in an intervie with the Business Journal . “It is not a strategt for going outof business.” But CollegeNet asked the court Aug. 19 to dismissx the bankruptcy, saying it is merely an effort by ApplicationsOnline to dodgse key proceedings in thepatentt lawsuit.
“This case is nothing more thana two-part dispute, poorly disguised as a bankruptcy case,” CollegeNet’s motioh said. Reiter’s firm, launched in 1998, developed technology allowingf students to submit the Common Application and bythe 2006-2007 academic year, more than a milliojn students nationwide were doing so. Last year, ApplicationsOnlined made local and national news when it lost the Commo Application account and launched acompeting product, the . That technologu is now used by more than 75 including , Hood College and . ApplicationsOnline has paid legal fees to fight thepatenty lawsuit, the firm said in a motion filee Aug. 11 but did not provides a figure.
CollegeNet, an Oregon-based firm that providee technology to collegesand nonprofits, sued ApplicationsOnline and The Common Application in late 2005. Their online application infringedfon CollegeNet’s patented technology, which allows a third party to efficientlyh process online forms, CollegeNet’s suit ApplicationsOnline countersued, saying CollegeNet’s patent was invalid and it had not As the patent costs ApplicationsOnline’s revenue began to fall because of the loss of the Commob Application account in July 2007, the firm’ss motion said.
ApplicationsOnline sued the Commoj Application and its new online vendorlast year, sayinh they illegally copied and used ApplicationsOnline’s copyrightes technology. ApplicationsOnline earned income from operationsof $107,3721 so far this year, compared with a totap of $8 million for 2006 and it said in a statement of financial affairs. The which has three employees, listed assets of $31,0000 and liabilities of $1.15 The largest debt listed was $1.14 million owed to Reiter. The firm also listefd CollegeNet and the Common Application as but said the amount it could owe them underr the pending lawsuitswas unclear.
But ApplicationsOnline “appears to be able to pay its billw as theycome due,” CollegeNet said in its motiob to dismiss the bankruptcy. ApplicationsOnline made a $3.7 million distributiomn to Reiterlast year, indicating that its financese are not in peril, CollegeNet’d motion claimed. And ApplicationsOnline filed bankruptcy just weekd before a key hearing on thepatenf claims, CollegeNet said in court Gary Leibowitz, an attorney with Cole Schotz Meiseo Forman & Leonard representing ApplicationsOnline in the declined comment on CollegeNet’s claims. Lisa Tancredi, an attorney with LLP representinfg CollegeNet, declined comment.
Officials with CollegeNet said that any companyt doing college admissions online is violating their patent. In determining whether a Chapter 11 bankruptchy filingis legitimate, judges consider whether the firm has an “ulterio r motive” beyond reorganizing and paying said Alan Grochal, chairman of the bankruptcgy department at Baltimore law firm . Grochal is not involvex in the case. Bankruptcy reorganizationn can be a murky areaof law.
Some like airlines and big manufacturers, have filed Chapter 11 when theie operationsare profitable, but futurse liabilities — like asbestos claims or labor contractxs — are weighing down the In determining whether a bankruptcy case is legitimate, courte pay attention to how many creditors are involver and the timing of the filing, Grochak said.
Last year, ApplicationsOnline lost its contract as the onlines provider of theCommomn Application, used by more than 300 collegez nationwide. That blow, coupled with an ongoing patent lawsuit bycompetitor CollegeNet, led to the Chapter 11 filing on Aug. 11, the firm said in court “The Chapter 11 is a strategy for stayinin business,” president Joshua Reiter said in an intervie with the Business Journal . “It is not a strategt for going outof business.” But CollegeNet asked the court Aug. 19 to dismissx the bankruptcy, saying it is merely an effort by ApplicationsOnline to dodgse key proceedings in thepatentt lawsuit.
“This case is nothing more thana two-part dispute, poorly disguised as a bankruptcy case,” CollegeNet’s motioh said. Reiter’s firm, launched in 1998, developed technology allowingf students to submit the Common Application and bythe 2006-2007 academic year, more than a milliojn students nationwide were doing so. Last year, ApplicationsOnlined made local and national news when it lost the Commo Application account and launched acompeting product, the . That technologu is now used by more than 75 including , Hood College and . ApplicationsOnline has paid legal fees to fight thepatenty lawsuit, the firm said in a motion filee Aug. 11 but did not provides a figure.
CollegeNet, an Oregon-based firm that providee technology to collegesand nonprofits, sued ApplicationsOnline and The Common Application in late 2005. Their online application infringedfon CollegeNet’s patented technology, which allows a third party to efficientlyh process online forms, CollegeNet’s suit ApplicationsOnline countersued, saying CollegeNet’s patent was invalid and it had not As the patent costs ApplicationsOnline’s revenue began to fall because of the loss of the Commob Application account in July 2007, the firm’ss motion said.
ApplicationsOnline sued the Commoj Application and its new online vendorlast year, sayinh they illegally copied and used ApplicationsOnline’s copyrightes technology. ApplicationsOnline earned income from operationsof $107,3721 so far this year, compared with a totap of $8 million for 2006 and it said in a statement of financial affairs. The which has three employees, listed assets of $31,0000 and liabilities of $1.15 The largest debt listed was $1.14 million owed to Reiter. The firm also listefd CollegeNet and the Common Application as but said the amount it could owe them underr the pending lawsuitswas unclear.
But ApplicationsOnline “appears to be able to pay its billw as theycome due,” CollegeNet said in its motiob to dismiss the bankruptcy. ApplicationsOnline made a $3.7 million distributiomn to Reiterlast year, indicating that its financese are not in peril, CollegeNet’d motion claimed. And ApplicationsOnline filed bankruptcy just weekd before a key hearing on thepatenf claims, CollegeNet said in court Gary Leibowitz, an attorney with Cole Schotz Meiseo Forman & Leonard representing ApplicationsOnline in the declined comment on CollegeNet’s claims. Lisa Tancredi, an attorney with LLP representinfg CollegeNet, declined comment.
Officials with CollegeNet said that any companyt doing college admissions online is violating their patent. In determining whether a Chapter 11 bankruptchy filingis legitimate, judges consider whether the firm has an “ulterio r motive” beyond reorganizing and paying said Alan Grochal, chairman of the bankruptcgy department at Baltimore law firm . Grochal is not involvex in the case. Bankruptcy reorganizationn can be a murky areaof law.
Some like airlines and big manufacturers, have filed Chapter 11 when theie operationsare profitable, but futurse liabilities — like asbestos claims or labor contractxs — are weighing down the In determining whether a bankruptcy case is legitimate, courte pay attention to how many creditors are involver and the timing of the filing, Grochak said.
вторник, 6 декабря 2011 г.
PR: Go on the offensive: Managing tough news in tough times - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
vickreyafolori1839.blogspot.com
drops off Nasdaq. In a turbulenrt economy, there is no shortage of bad news. Experts say that in a time like what may matter most is the way in whicbh that bad newsis communicated. How managemeng deals with the employees, clients and the community could impact how the business is viewee for yearsto come. Businessw leaders who hide in their offices, bury facts and let the rumorf mill control the story will be viewef with angerand distrust. But those who plan their messages carefully, and deliver it promptly and with candoe to allrelevant parties, are more likelhy to be remembered as good corporate citizens.
“Thre spotlight will be on your company,” said Dan Moran, a businessw consultant and presidentof Next-Act, an Albany careed management firm. “You have one chance to get it right.” Many publicx relations professionals advise clients to have a crisis communication plan in place at all This way, basic guidelines are in place when any sort of bad from layoffs to a chemica spill, breaks. Additional preparation should take place once a bad news event occurs.
The first step is to assesd the situation and thepossible “I advise that you convend a group of stakeholders,” said Pauline Bartel, president of Waterford-basedx “You need someone from top management, huma resources, the PR team ... the objecft is for everyone to put theirf cards onthe table, face up, so you can identifgy any gaps in information.” Next, list every including clients, suppliers and the media, and craft a messaged for each. While these messagez must be consistent, each audience has different needs.
Employeesa will want to know abouttheidr futures, while shareholders will be interestefd in the impact on the bottom Clients will want to know if service will be It is also vital, PR experts say, to select just one person to speak for the company. “You don’t want 20 differentg versions of things coming out so everyone lookslike fools,” said Richarrd Berman, president of of Chappaqua in Westchester Once the situation is assessed, the constituents identified, the messagesz crafted, and the spokesperson chosen, it is time to deliver the news. “It comes down to threed phrases: Tell it all, tell it tell it yourself.
” said Edwar d Parham, director of public relationas forin Colonie. Ideally, the news shouled be shared with all partiews at thesame time. In the age of textintg and Twittering, “news can travel at the speesd ofan electron,” said Matthew spokesman for in “You want to deliver your news before anyond else can.” Bartel suggestas giving “a few select a heads-up that news is “That way, the reporter has gotten the company line befors a disgruntled employee picks up the phone,” she When the news is delivered, it must be complete and truthful, with as many details as can be It is especially important that the CEO or other designates spokesperson be available and responsive.
“There is no such thing as not takinb the call and having the paper the next day sayyou weren’t available,” said Dean CEO of Rueckert Advertising. “That is not And a good answer isnevefr ‘no comment.’ Back it up with the reason you can’ft comment—confidentiality, legalities, what have you. You don’tt want to look like you are dodging the questiojn orhiding something.
” This candor extends to Moran said that when he works with companies in bad-newx situations, he institutes a “noi closed door for three days” rule on top While some experts suggest softeningy bad news with positive notews about the company’s future, others advocate for a two-stepo approach. “I say recognizd the bad news for whatit is,” Bartelo said. “Don’t sugarcoat it. a week or so introduce the good news, and it becomes the rest of the Part ofthe company’s reputation will be determinedx by how it behaves in the weekz following an announcement.
Insurance gianft created a firestornm when, after receiving billionss in taxpayer bailout money, it flew executives to a expensives retreat. The Times Union angerer workers by hosting a party after announcing job Jon Pierce, owner of in Albany, said this does not mean a compan should abandon all obligations, such as sponsorships of charit y events. “It’s a balancing act,” he “The key is to be consistenf and honest.
Say ‘we are layinv off and cutting backon sponsor-ships, but we have thesw obligations we must meet …’ ” The finalo word of advice from PR experts is to keep a closse eye on media outlets after the news It may be particularly important to monitore social media and blogs, where rumorsd and anonymous attacks can prevail. “A lot of people forget about sociaol media,” said Shannon Cherry, owner of Albany-baser . “But you want to know what peopl are saying behindyour back, so to Much can be gained, Cherry said, by respondinh with facts and keeping everything in perspective.
“You are in the same boat as thousands ofother companies,” she said. “It will be difficulft at first, but with everything going on now, your news won’t make much of an impactf if you leverageit bpinckney@bizjournals.com | 518-640-6815
drops off Nasdaq. In a turbulenrt economy, there is no shortage of bad news. Experts say that in a time like what may matter most is the way in whicbh that bad newsis communicated. How managemeng deals with the employees, clients and the community could impact how the business is viewee for yearsto come. Businessw leaders who hide in their offices, bury facts and let the rumorf mill control the story will be viewef with angerand distrust. But those who plan their messages carefully, and deliver it promptly and with candoe to allrelevant parties, are more likelhy to be remembered as good corporate citizens.
“Thre spotlight will be on your company,” said Dan Moran, a businessw consultant and presidentof Next-Act, an Albany careed management firm. “You have one chance to get it right.” Many publicx relations professionals advise clients to have a crisis communication plan in place at all This way, basic guidelines are in place when any sort of bad from layoffs to a chemica spill, breaks. Additional preparation should take place once a bad news event occurs.
The first step is to assesd the situation and thepossible “I advise that you convend a group of stakeholders,” said Pauline Bartel, president of Waterford-basedx “You need someone from top management, huma resources, the PR team ... the objecft is for everyone to put theirf cards onthe table, face up, so you can identifgy any gaps in information.” Next, list every including clients, suppliers and the media, and craft a messaged for each. While these messagez must be consistent, each audience has different needs.
Employeesa will want to know abouttheidr futures, while shareholders will be interestefd in the impact on the bottom Clients will want to know if service will be It is also vital, PR experts say, to select just one person to speak for the company. “You don’t want 20 differentg versions of things coming out so everyone lookslike fools,” said Richarrd Berman, president of of Chappaqua in Westchester Once the situation is assessed, the constituents identified, the messagesz crafted, and the spokesperson chosen, it is time to deliver the news. “It comes down to threed phrases: Tell it all, tell it tell it yourself.
” said Edwar d Parham, director of public relationas forin Colonie. Ideally, the news shouled be shared with all partiews at thesame time. In the age of textintg and Twittering, “news can travel at the speesd ofan electron,” said Matthew spokesman for in “You want to deliver your news before anyond else can.” Bartel suggestas giving “a few select a heads-up that news is “That way, the reporter has gotten the company line befors a disgruntled employee picks up the phone,” she When the news is delivered, it must be complete and truthful, with as many details as can be It is especially important that the CEO or other designates spokesperson be available and responsive.
“There is no such thing as not takinb the call and having the paper the next day sayyou weren’t available,” said Dean CEO of Rueckert Advertising. “That is not And a good answer isnevefr ‘no comment.’ Back it up with the reason you can’ft comment—confidentiality, legalities, what have you. You don’tt want to look like you are dodging the questiojn orhiding something.
” This candor extends to Moran said that when he works with companies in bad-newx situations, he institutes a “noi closed door for three days” rule on top While some experts suggest softeningy bad news with positive notews about the company’s future, others advocate for a two-stepo approach. “I say recognizd the bad news for whatit is,” Bartelo said. “Don’t sugarcoat it. a week or so introduce the good news, and it becomes the rest of the Part ofthe company’s reputation will be determinedx by how it behaves in the weekz following an announcement.
Insurance gianft created a firestornm when, after receiving billionss in taxpayer bailout money, it flew executives to a expensives retreat. The Times Union angerer workers by hosting a party after announcing job Jon Pierce, owner of in Albany, said this does not mean a compan should abandon all obligations, such as sponsorships of charit y events. “It’s a balancing act,” he “The key is to be consistenf and honest.
Say ‘we are layinv off and cutting backon sponsor-ships, but we have thesw obligations we must meet …’ ” The finalo word of advice from PR experts is to keep a closse eye on media outlets after the news It may be particularly important to monitore social media and blogs, where rumorsd and anonymous attacks can prevail. “A lot of people forget about sociaol media,” said Shannon Cherry, owner of Albany-baser . “But you want to know what peopl are saying behindyour back, so to Much can be gained, Cherry said, by respondinh with facts and keeping everything in perspective.
“You are in the same boat as thousands ofother companies,” she said. “It will be difficulft at first, but with everything going on now, your news won’t make much of an impactf if you leverageit bpinckney@bizjournals.com | 518-640-6815
воскресенье, 4 декабря 2011 г.
Colliers adds to Nashville management team - Kansas City Business Journal:
vuwodu.wordpress.com
“Creighton brings more than 12 years of experiencse in the commercial real estate industryto Colliers,” says Doug managing principal for Colliers' Nashvillw office. “We are thrilleds to have him onour Wright’s responsibilities will include the managemen t of large institutionally owned health and medical as well as the growth of the business Until March of this year, Wright was vice president of mixed-use development for Southernm Land Co., where he was responsible for the developmen of select real estate projects. Southernh Land underwent a shift in executivw team makeup earlierthis year.
The Franklin-basefd development company announced the appointmentsd of Brian Sewell as president and Chris Bove as CEO inearlg February. Southern Land is the developer of the Williamsomn County residentialprojects Westhaven, LaurelBrooker and McEwen. The company also has projectss inthe Dallas/Fort Houston and Austin, Texas, markets.
“Creighton brings more than 12 years of experiencse in the commercial real estate industryto Colliers,” says Doug managing principal for Colliers' Nashvillw office. “We are thrilleds to have him onour Wright’s responsibilities will include the managemen t of large institutionally owned health and medical as well as the growth of the business Until March of this year, Wright was vice president of mixed-use development for Southernm Land Co., where he was responsible for the developmen of select real estate projects. Southernh Land underwent a shift in executivw team makeup earlierthis year.
The Franklin-basefd development company announced the appointmentsd of Brian Sewell as president and Chris Bove as CEO inearlg February. Southern Land is the developer of the Williamsomn County residentialprojects Westhaven, LaurelBrooker and McEwen. The company also has projectss inthe Dallas/Fort Houston and Austin, Texas, markets.
пятница, 2 декабря 2011 г.
Bank Midwest names new CEO - Business First of Buffalo:
andreychukuze.blogspot.com
Holewinski, 40, is the son-in-lae of Dickinson Financial Chairwoman Ann He previously served as senior executivr vice president and a membedr of the board for DickinsonFinancial Corp. Holewinsk i joined the bank in 1997 as a vice presideng and became executive vice president of commercialp bankingin 2003. He also has experiencre as a lawyer in the mergers and acquisitionsd and corporate finance practice groupwsof . “Paul will be an outstanding leadefr ofthe bank,” Smalleh said in a release. “I have worked with him for 10 I have played a role in training him, and I believe he is the right person to lead the organization.
The banking businese is more challenging todagthan ever, and he understands both the past and what is needefd for the future succes s of this business.” Smalley joined Bank Midwest in becoming CEO in 1997. During Smalley’z leadership, Bank Midwest’s assets grew from about $500 milliohn to $4.3 billion as of March 31. Smallety is a former Class A directoe ofthe , serving six years until his secondr term ended on Dec. 31.
Bank Midwest also said Tuesdayt that Daniel Dickinson was named as senior executive vice presidenf and chief lending overseeing allthe bank’s lending operations “on an interim Dickinson, the son of Ann formerly served as executive vice presidentt of commercial real estate at Bank Midwest. He succeedds Randy Nay, “who has left the bank,” the compant said in the release. “We’ve got two very well-trained and well-qualified members of the family who owns the stepping up during some challenginbgtimes for, really, the entire John Cox, general counsel for Dickinson Financial, said in an “They are just taking on more responsibilitty and more prominent leadership roles.
” In the past three Dickinson Financial made bank acquisitions in Arizona and Southern California, while Bank Midwest set up loan-productionm operations in the same These now are some of the areads hit hardest by reductions in house Bank Midwest lost $39.5 million in the first quarter, which ended March 31, and $14.2 millio in the fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 31. It had $14.56 million in assets past due at leasr 90 days as ofMarch 31, up 302.1 percent from $3.6 milliomn as of Dec. 31.
Holewinski, 40, is the son-in-lae of Dickinson Financial Chairwoman Ann He previously served as senior executivr vice president and a membedr of the board for DickinsonFinancial Corp. Holewinsk i joined the bank in 1997 as a vice presideng and became executive vice president of commercialp bankingin 2003. He also has experiencre as a lawyer in the mergers and acquisitionsd and corporate finance practice groupwsof . “Paul will be an outstanding leadefr ofthe bank,” Smalleh said in a release. “I have worked with him for 10 I have played a role in training him, and I believe he is the right person to lead the organization.
The banking businese is more challenging todagthan ever, and he understands both the past and what is needefd for the future succes s of this business.” Smalley joined Bank Midwest in becoming CEO in 1997. During Smalley’z leadership, Bank Midwest’s assets grew from about $500 milliohn to $4.3 billion as of March 31. Smallety is a former Class A directoe ofthe , serving six years until his secondr term ended on Dec. 31.
Bank Midwest also said Tuesdayt that Daniel Dickinson was named as senior executive vice presidenf and chief lending overseeing allthe bank’s lending operations “on an interim Dickinson, the son of Ann formerly served as executive vice presidentt of commercial real estate at Bank Midwest. He succeedds Randy Nay, “who has left the bank,” the compant said in the release. “We’ve got two very well-trained and well-qualified members of the family who owns the stepping up during some challenginbgtimes for, really, the entire John Cox, general counsel for Dickinson Financial, said in an “They are just taking on more responsibilitty and more prominent leadership roles.
” In the past three Dickinson Financial made bank acquisitions in Arizona and Southern California, while Bank Midwest set up loan-productionm operations in the same These now are some of the areads hit hardest by reductions in house Bank Midwest lost $39.5 million in the first quarter, which ended March 31, and $14.2 millio in the fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 31. It had $14.56 million in assets past due at leasr 90 days as ofMarch 31, up 302.1 percent from $3.6 milliomn as of Dec. 31.
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