ogarawo.wordpress.com
The suit in King Count Superior Court was related to a breach ofcontract claim. The court granted the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on Friday, and said damaged for the alleged breachhare $184.47 million, Expedia said in a regulatoryu filing. Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) said the judgment is not finao and that itwould However, it noted that it would need to post a bond or possibly for the full in order to appeal a finakl judgment. "We believe that the court’sw decision is wrong on the law and wronvg onthe facts," the company said. "Expedia.
comk charged its customers a service fee for certain transaction during the perioddescribedr above, which was fully disclosed to each customert before a booking was completed, and we are confident that we have fulfillefd all applicable obligations to our Because we believe that the court’s decisiob is inconsistent with both the factds and the law, we will vigorously pursue our rightes on appeal." Separately, the company said it had signed new employmengt agreements with CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and generapl counsel Burke Norton. Under the three-yeadr agreements, Khosrowshahi will receive hiscurrent $1 millionb annual base salary.
Norton's base salart will increase to $425,000 from $375,000.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Ashland Inc. Announces Pricing of Senior Notes Due 2017
badillodacyroic1505.blogspot.com
May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today announced that it has priced $650 million of 9.125% senior unsecured notes (the "Notes"). The offering was increased from a previousluy announced sizeof $600 The Notes, due June 1, 2017, will be issuec at 96.577% of the principal amount to yield The transaction is expected to close May 27, 2009, subject to certaimn closing conditions. Ashland intends to use the net proceeds from the together withavailable liquidity, to repay in full its existingh $750 million bridge loan and to pay fees and expense s in connection with the offering and the repaymen of the indebtedness.
The Notes are bein g sold in the United States to qualified institutional buyers in relianced on Rule 144A and outsidwe the United States in compliance withRegulation S, under the Securitiess Act of 1933. These Notes have not been registered undefr the Securities Act or any states securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the Unitedc States absent registration or an applicable exemptiojn fromregistration requirements. This press release does not constitutew an offerto sell, or the solicitatio n of an offer to buy, the nor shall it constitutee an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation or sale is unlawful. Ashland Inc.
(NYSE: ASH) providea specialty chemical products, services and solutions for many ofthe world' s most essential needs and industries. Serving customerws in more than 100 it operates through fivecommercial units: Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Watee Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashlanf Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution. To learbn more about Ashland, visit . SOURCE Ashland Inc.
May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today announced that it has priced $650 million of 9.125% senior unsecured notes (the "Notes"). The offering was increased from a previousluy announced sizeof $600 The Notes, due June 1, 2017, will be issuec at 96.577% of the principal amount to yield The transaction is expected to close May 27, 2009, subject to certaimn closing conditions. Ashland intends to use the net proceeds from the together withavailable liquidity, to repay in full its existingh $750 million bridge loan and to pay fees and expense s in connection with the offering and the repaymen of the indebtedness.
The Notes are bein g sold in the United States to qualified institutional buyers in relianced on Rule 144A and outsidwe the United States in compliance withRegulation S, under the Securitiess Act of 1933. These Notes have not been registered undefr the Securities Act or any states securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the Unitedc States absent registration or an applicable exemptiojn fromregistration requirements. This press release does not constitutew an offerto sell, or the solicitatio n of an offer to buy, the nor shall it constitutee an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation or sale is unlawful. Ashland Inc.
(NYSE: ASH) providea specialty chemical products, services and solutions for many ofthe world' s most essential needs and industries. Serving customerws in more than 100 it operates through fivecommercial units: Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Watee Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashlanf Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution. To learbn more about Ashland, visit . SOURCE Ashland Inc.
Monday, September 26, 2011
So you want to be in pictures? Here's the scoop - Vancouver Sun
onesawava.wordpress.com
So you want to be in pictures? Here's the scoop Vancouver Sun "As a rule, we want three trades, meaning hands-on skills in three different trades," said IATSE's Chris Sturges. "The reason is you need to be able to pick up any kind of tool and be able to use it, and understand the mechanics of a foreign task ... |
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Md. colleges given $11M to combat nursing shortage - Triangle Business Journal:
zemlyanikiyri.blogspot.com
The grants, being divvied among 17 Marylandnursing schools, will be used to lure facult y and students, and improve technology at the Maryland’s nursing shortage is expectedc to reach 10,000 by 2016, according to the . The currengt vacancy rate of nurses at state hospitals is8 percent. The economixc downturn has helped the industry because many retirede nurses have come backto work, but once the recession ends the shortagee will worsen, said Carmela Coyle, CEO of the Marylaned Hospital Association. The first round of grants will increase the number of nursesw graduating by 300 students and add 20 faculty positionse at nursing programs acrossthe state.
“Ths number of nurses graduating from Maryland schools are simplgynot enough,” said Ronald B. president of and co-chair of the “Who Will campaign at a press conference Monday. “Wer cannot take our eye off thenursing demand.” The campaign’sd goal is to add 1,500 new nursing The program has raisec $15.5 million to date through the state’s businesx community, including funds from the Baltimore construction form , , the region'e largest hospital system, and , the region'ss largest health insurer. Greater Baltimore Medical Center, for gave $500,000.
The goal is to raise $20 million from the private sectodr by the end ofthe year, and then raise an additionh $40 million in state, local and federap funds. • • • • • ; and, • .
The grants, being divvied among 17 Marylandnursing schools, will be used to lure facult y and students, and improve technology at the Maryland’s nursing shortage is expectedc to reach 10,000 by 2016, according to the . The currengt vacancy rate of nurses at state hospitals is8 percent. The economixc downturn has helped the industry because many retirede nurses have come backto work, but once the recession ends the shortagee will worsen, said Carmela Coyle, CEO of the Marylaned Hospital Association. The first round of grants will increase the number of nursesw graduating by 300 students and add 20 faculty positionse at nursing programs acrossthe state.
“Ths number of nurses graduating from Maryland schools are simplgynot enough,” said Ronald B. president of and co-chair of the “Who Will campaign at a press conference Monday. “Wer cannot take our eye off thenursing demand.” The campaign’sd goal is to add 1,500 new nursing The program has raisec $15.5 million to date through the state’s businesx community, including funds from the Baltimore construction form , , the region'e largest hospital system, and , the region'ss largest health insurer. Greater Baltimore Medical Center, for gave $500,000.
The goal is to raise $20 million from the private sectodr by the end ofthe year, and then raise an additionh $40 million in state, local and federap funds. • • • • • ; and, • .
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Small businesses seek relief from product safety law - bizjournals:
ywyjihu.wordpress.com
Congress passed the Consumer Products Safeth Improvement Act in August 2008 in responsed to the discovery of high lead contenrt in toys importedfrom China. But U.S. businessed contend the law has made it impossible for them to sell productse that pose no health threat to Manufacturers complainthe law’s requirementd to test and certify children’se products for lead and phthalatesw — and attach permanent tracking labels — are unreasonabld and too costly for many small Supporters of the legislation contend that the has done a poor job of providintg guidance to businesses on how to complt with the legislation.
They also maintain the commission has the authority to exclude certain classes of products fromthe law’s requirementzs if they don’t pose a health But Nancy Nord, acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, testifierd at a May 14 House heariny that the agency is “hamstrung by the law’s sweepiny reach and inflexibility.” The commission has “nog yet been able to identify any products that wouled meet the law’s requirements for she said. On Jan. 30, the commissioj did issue a one-year stay of enforcementf for the law’s testing and certification requirements. “I t was very clear people were not ready to meet the Nord said.
But this stay of enforcement did not relieve manufacturers or retailerz of the underlying legal liability for sellingf products that did not meetthe law’w lower lead and phthalate which went into effect Feb. 10. “According to the retailingg community, the stay changees nothing,” said David McCubbin, a partner in McCubbin an OklahomaCity manufacturer. “Retailersz continue to ask us to test.” Even thougj there is no evidencde thathis company’s hosiery contains lead, his compant will be forced to pay more than $500,000o on lead testing during the next McCubbin said.
Hosiery isn’t likely to be ingested or solead wouldn’t pose a health hazarx even if it were he added. Textiles should be exempted from the leadtestintg requirement, he said. For Swimways a Virginia Beach, Va.-based manufacturer of wate r products, the problem isn’t lead, it’s phthalates — compounds often used to soften vinyl. The law banned the sale of children’s productes that contained phthalates, even if the partz containing phthalates arenot accessible. Because the law made the new phthalatexsstandard retroactive, Swimways was stuck with inventory it couldn’tf sell.
Retailers returned or destroyed Swimways merchandise and charged Swimways forthe expense. The law cost the 70-employeew company more than $1 million, said Anthongy Vittone, vice president and general counsel. The law could cost creators of handmade itemsdtheir businesses, two home-based crafters testified. Laurek Schreiber, owner of Lucy’s Pockert in Allison Park, Pa., makes monogrammed giftsa for children, such as hairbows, and an applique bib and bloomer set.
Congress passed the Consumer Products Safeth Improvement Act in August 2008 in responsed to the discovery of high lead contenrt in toys importedfrom China. But U.S. businessed contend the law has made it impossible for them to sell productse that pose no health threat to Manufacturers complainthe law’s requirementd to test and certify children’se products for lead and phthalatesw — and attach permanent tracking labels — are unreasonabld and too costly for many small Supporters of the legislation contend that the has done a poor job of providintg guidance to businesses on how to complt with the legislation.
They also maintain the commission has the authority to exclude certain classes of products fromthe law’s requirementzs if they don’t pose a health But Nancy Nord, acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, testifierd at a May 14 House heariny that the agency is “hamstrung by the law’s sweepiny reach and inflexibility.” The commission has “nog yet been able to identify any products that wouled meet the law’s requirements for she said. On Jan. 30, the commissioj did issue a one-year stay of enforcementf for the law’s testing and certification requirements. “I t was very clear people were not ready to meet the Nord said.
But this stay of enforcement did not relieve manufacturers or retailerz of the underlying legal liability for sellingf products that did not meetthe law’w lower lead and phthalate which went into effect Feb. 10. “According to the retailingg community, the stay changees nothing,” said David McCubbin, a partner in McCubbin an OklahomaCity manufacturer. “Retailersz continue to ask us to test.” Even thougj there is no evidencde thathis company’s hosiery contains lead, his compant will be forced to pay more than $500,000o on lead testing during the next McCubbin said.
Hosiery isn’t likely to be ingested or solead wouldn’t pose a health hazarx even if it were he added. Textiles should be exempted from the leadtestintg requirement, he said. For Swimways a Virginia Beach, Va.-based manufacturer of wate r products, the problem isn’t lead, it’s phthalates — compounds often used to soften vinyl. The law banned the sale of children’s productes that contained phthalates, even if the partz containing phthalates arenot accessible. Because the law made the new phthalatexsstandard retroactive, Swimways was stuck with inventory it couldn’tf sell.
Retailers returned or destroyed Swimways merchandise and charged Swimways forthe expense. The law cost the 70-employeew company more than $1 million, said Anthongy Vittone, vice president and general counsel. The law could cost creators of handmade itemsdtheir businesses, two home-based crafters testified. Laurek Schreiber, owner of Lucy’s Pockert in Allison Park, Pa., makes monogrammed giftsa for children, such as hairbows, and an applique bib and bloomer set.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Health reform penalties to increase - Boston Business Journal:
burwellmitubaes1369.blogspot.com
That number is expected to grow from arouned 885 companies penalized last year to morethan 1,100 in 2009. The upticik will likely be a financial boon for the as the commonwealth is expected to brinin $45 million in penalties next year, up from $7 million this year, according to . To avoi the state health reform law’s “Fairr Share” assessment — $295 per employee per year companies have, until now, had to pass one of two Businesses could either enroll at least 25 percent oftheirt full-time employees in a company-sponsored plan, or make a contributioj equal to at least 33 percent of the cost of the employee’as premium.
Starting next year, companies with more than 50 employeess will have to passboth tests, unlesws they have at least 75 percen of their full-time workers enrolleed in a plan. Meanwhile, new “Minimum Creditabler Coverage” guidelines also go into effectin January. Next year individualsx must subscribe to a plan that offers a broadc range of benefits includingpreventive care, hospitalization, mentakl health services and prescriptionj drug coverage, or face tax penalties. , the state agencty that administersthe state-run health plan, estimatese that 30,000 to 40,000 employees currentlu do not have prescription coverage throug h their employer-sponsored plans.
Sandra Reynolds, an executiv vice president at AIM, said that whild the guideline is gearedtoward individuals, businesses will take an indirect hit. “Companies are unlikely to offef a plan that would cause an employere to face a tax penaltyfor noncompliance. It woulde hurt recruitment and retentiontoo much.” However, there are a few so-callede “safe haven” provisions to protect individuals with plans that are collectively bargainee or whose plans do not match completely with the statre requirements, but are deemed to be by the Connector. Employers with Massachusetts-based health plans will also now have to extendf coverage todependent children.
Children of employeesz will now be covered until either their 26th birthdauy or two years beyond the calendar year when their parentsa provided at least 50 percent of theirfinancial support. Another change is that the statre will begin requiring quarterlty compliance reportsfrom companies. Companies must file theit first report, for the fourth quarterd of 2008, by Feb. 15. But in a compromiser reached by the business community and thePatrickm administration, many businesses with a historyt of strong compliance will be exempt from quarterly filing requirement.
Reynolds says the compromise will reduce the administrative burden onboth Meanwhile, the Connector has unveilef a state-sponsored pilot program to help small employers stay on the rightr side of the health reform law. The so-called Contributorhy Plan will allow businesses with 50 or fewed employees to have the same choice as those enrolled in the CommonwealthChoice plan. Commonwealthh Choice is a healtu insurance option for individualswho don’t have access to employer-sponsore d health plans but make too much money to qualit y for the state-subsidized Commonwealth To participate in the pilot program, employers will firsg choose a benchmark plan from the most expensive “Gold” plansa to the least expensive plans offered by one of six insurers.
For a company might offer the Harvard Pilgrim Bronze plan as thebenchmarkk plan. The company will pay at least 50 percengt toward thebenchmark plan. However, an employew may choose a different insurer’s Bronzr plan. If the chosen plan costsx more than thebenchmark plan, the employee pays the difference. The goal is to providre more choicesfor employees, at a fixed cost for employers. By allowinvg employees to trade upor down, the employer can, “ley the CFO pay for the most expensiv e plan, but allow younger workera to buy something cheaper,” said Jon the Connector’s executive director.
The purpose is to “preservre gains we’ve already made in compliancee withthe law, not really to expandr coverage,” Kingsdale said.
That number is expected to grow from arouned 885 companies penalized last year to morethan 1,100 in 2009. The upticik will likely be a financial boon for the as the commonwealth is expected to brinin $45 million in penalties next year, up from $7 million this year, according to . To avoi the state health reform law’s “Fairr Share” assessment — $295 per employee per year companies have, until now, had to pass one of two Businesses could either enroll at least 25 percent oftheirt full-time employees in a company-sponsored plan, or make a contributioj equal to at least 33 percent of the cost of the employee’as premium.
Starting next year, companies with more than 50 employeess will have to passboth tests, unlesws they have at least 75 percen of their full-time workers enrolleed in a plan. Meanwhile, new “Minimum Creditabler Coverage” guidelines also go into effectin January. Next year individualsx must subscribe to a plan that offers a broadc range of benefits includingpreventive care, hospitalization, mentakl health services and prescriptionj drug coverage, or face tax penalties. , the state agencty that administersthe state-run health plan, estimatese that 30,000 to 40,000 employees currentlu do not have prescription coverage throug h their employer-sponsored plans.
Sandra Reynolds, an executiv vice president at AIM, said that whild the guideline is gearedtoward individuals, businesses will take an indirect hit. “Companies are unlikely to offef a plan that would cause an employere to face a tax penaltyfor noncompliance. It woulde hurt recruitment and retentiontoo much.” However, there are a few so-callede “safe haven” provisions to protect individuals with plans that are collectively bargainee or whose plans do not match completely with the statre requirements, but are deemed to be by the Connector. Employers with Massachusetts-based health plans will also now have to extendf coverage todependent children.
Children of employeesz will now be covered until either their 26th birthdauy or two years beyond the calendar year when their parentsa provided at least 50 percent of theirfinancial support. Another change is that the statre will begin requiring quarterlty compliance reportsfrom companies. Companies must file theit first report, for the fourth quarterd of 2008, by Feb. 15. But in a compromiser reached by the business community and thePatrickm administration, many businesses with a historyt of strong compliance will be exempt from quarterly filing requirement.
Reynolds says the compromise will reduce the administrative burden onboth Meanwhile, the Connector has unveilef a state-sponsored pilot program to help small employers stay on the rightr side of the health reform law. The so-called Contributorhy Plan will allow businesses with 50 or fewed employees to have the same choice as those enrolled in the CommonwealthChoice plan. Commonwealthh Choice is a healtu insurance option for individualswho don’t have access to employer-sponsore d health plans but make too much money to qualit y for the state-subsidized Commonwealth To participate in the pilot program, employers will firsg choose a benchmark plan from the most expensive “Gold” plansa to the least expensive plans offered by one of six insurers.
For a company might offer the Harvard Pilgrim Bronze plan as thebenchmarkk plan. The company will pay at least 50 percengt toward thebenchmark plan. However, an employew may choose a different insurer’s Bronzr plan. If the chosen plan costsx more than thebenchmark plan, the employee pays the difference. The goal is to providre more choicesfor employees, at a fixed cost for employers. By allowinvg employees to trade upor down, the employer can, “ley the CFO pay for the most expensiv e plan, but allow younger workera to buy something cheaper,” said Jon the Connector’s executive director.
The purpose is to “preservre gains we’ve already made in compliancee withthe law, not really to expandr coverage,” Kingsdale said.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Primetime: TV's most-anticipated returns - Zanesville Times Recorder
awipekyhila.blogspot.com
Primetime: TV's most-anticipated returns Zanesville Times Recorder Every 10 years or so, we get another reminder of why politics and logic just don't mix well... Although the US Constitution was signed 224 years ago on Sept. I always have heard you should give gifts that you would most like to receive. ... |
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