Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Western Refining Announces Pricing and Increased Size of Concurrent Common Stock and Convertible Senior Notes Offerings

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Western Refining also granted the underwriterza 30-day option to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional shares of common stock on the same terms and conditions. Western Refining also announcex today that it increased its previously announced concurrentt offering of convertible senior notes due 2014to $200 millionn in aggregate principal amount. Western Refining also grantesd the underwriters an option to purchase anadditional $30 million in aggregate principal amounr of convertible senior notes on the same terms and The convertible senior notes will pay interesg semi-annually at a rate of 5.75% per year and will mature on June 15, 2014 unleszs earlier repurchased or converted.
The initial conversion rate for the convertible seniorr notes willbe 92.5926 shares of commomn stock per $1,000 principal amoungt of convertible senior notes. This is equivalent to an initial conversion price ofapproximatelyu $10.80 per share of common stock, which represents approximately a 20% premium to the publifc offering price of the common Western Refining intends to use the net proceedd from each offering to repauy indebtedness under its term loan credit Merrill Lynch & Co. and Sachs & Co. are acting as jointg book-running managers for each A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to each offering have been filed withthe U.S.
Securities and Exchanger Commission and are available onits . This press release does not constitutew an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offef to buyany securities. A registratiobn statement relating to the securitiesz has been filed andis effective. Each offerinbg will be made only by means of a prospectuse supplement and accompanyingbase prospectus, copies of which may be obtainec from Merrill Lynch & Co., 4 Worlds Financial Center, New York, NY 10080, Attention: Prospectus Departmen or Goldman, Sachs & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 85 Broad Street, New York, NY telephone: (866) 471-2526, fax: 212-902-9316, email: . Western Inc.
is an independent refining and marketinh company headquartered inEl Paso, Texas. Investor and Analyst Mark Cox, 915-534-1400 or Media Contact: Gary Hanson, 915-534-140 SOURCE Western Refining, Inc.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Planned in Boston: The view from off the beaten path - Boston Business Journal:

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"This city has so many different, fantastic selling Don't always go for the old said Edward Naughton, a partnerf with Boston law firm LLP. "There's always a call to go see a Sox but it's always good to try new things. I'ves taken clients to restaurants in theSouth End, and it'se a completely different feel from the Financial Even so, the Red Sox and Fenway Park are alwayas in demand, said Naughton, who says he occasionally playe host to clients in town for meetingz or court cases. Holland & Knightr has access to a sky boxat Fenway, which almost always proves popular. " 'Canh we get tickets to a Sox game?
' And we sometimesz manage to," he said. "It'zs a very common request." , a Westford-basec media-integration firm that serves the high-ens residential market, also suggests a Red Sox game if he happene to beentertaining out-of-town clients. "Fenway Park has a certainb mystiqueto it," he "People want to go there." Occasionally, Naughton Holland & Knight plays host to larger groups -- newly arrived summer associates, for example -- in which case the firm sponsors a duck tour or tripsa to such cultural institutions as the or the , or to concerta at the FleetBoston Pavilion in the Seaport Guests of the law firm also enjoy the view of the Back Bay and Southb End rooftops from Holland & Knight'a two roof decks on St.
James Avenue, he Todd Ryan, vice president of talent acquisitionfor Burlington-basedr , also stresses the value of exploration -- even when it comesa to something as seemingly simple as finding a plac e to eat. "When people think of the Nortyh End, they think of fabulous restaurants. But really ther are so many other restaurants that mighg not be household names and might not be onHanovee Street," he said. "It's always nice to explore the North End off ofHanovere Street." Ryan says he entertains a good deal in the courser of his work, whether it means hosting existin clients or prospective corporate customers lookin to outsource some of their humanb resources duties.
"It's nice to have access to a city that has somethinbgfor everyone," he said. Ryan said he sometimesa will putan out-of-town client on Boston's Freedom Trailo for a general overview of the city's Afterward, they'll double back and visiyt a site off the trail that might have piqued the client'xs interest. Like Naughton, Ryan said Boston Duck Tours is a good way to show off the from the waterfrontto downtown. Dinint is, of course, as much a staple of corporate entertainmen as theexpense account.
Ryan said he likes to take clientsa toAbe & Louie's on Boylstonm Street in the Back Bay, which he says has a affordable wine list and is convenient to shopss and attractions in the and on Newbury Street. The steakhouse's entrees are in the $35 Ryan also likes to take clients to Aquitaind on Tremont Street in theSouth End, whichn features dinner entrees ranging from $17 to $28. "It'xs quaint and conducive to but not too quaint and too small that itfeelw claustrophobic," he said. "Anrd it's a nice walk from the Back Bay -- you pass througj a beautiful residential neighborhoodand you're in a restaurantt mecca.
" Naughton said he likesz to take clients to the Stanhope Gril l in the on Stuart Street, which he says is convenientt to Holland & Knight's Entrees at Stanhope Grill range in price from $19 to $36. "It'zs very elegant and not too stuffy," he said. DeFilippo said a favoritew restaurant of his is The Federalisft in15 . "The menu is It's conservative and understated, and people find it'es conducive to conducting business," he said. The Federalist'x dinner entrees range from $26 to $45.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Flex schedules top employees

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"Employees appreciate flexibility in their jobs becauses it gives them greater control and enablee them to handle other commitments without sacrificinv theirwork performance," OfficeTeam Executivde Director Robert Hosking said. He suggested that businesses stagger workers' schedules to maximize the total number of hours that employeeas are available to help customers. Even if companies aren't able to implemeng flexible schedules, allowing employees to occasionallyh leave early on Fridays can have a positive effect on accordingto Hosking. "Many workers schedule weekend tripd during the summer and appreciate a head startr ontheir travels," he said.
The surve y was based on telephone interviewzs with457 full- or part-timed office workers ages 18 or older.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Lumiere stops recognizing warring union, affecting 750 workers - St. Louis Business Journal:

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Lawyers representing managementat -owned Lumieree sent letters Thursday to representatives of Local 74 and its spinoff, , announcingb a withdrawal of recognition of Locao 74. “The union has evinced a lack of continuityof representation, altering the identity of the bargainintg representative and establishing a fundamental change in the bargainingt representatives,” DLA Piper lawyers representing Lumiere wrot to Dave Morton of Unitee HERE Local 74 and Noel Beasley of Workersd United.
Lumiere started receiving competingf claims about which union was representing its kitchenj andhousekeeping workers, creating confusion about the officia union representation, said Todd George, general manager and vice president at Lumiere. “Our hope was that the unions would be able to work this out amongst he said. “We’re trying to stay out of the middls of thesecompeting unions.” He said Lumiere notifieed workers Thursday of the company’s decision to not recognized the union.
As a result, Local 74 filed unfair labor practice charges with the Nationalp LaborRelations Board, said Morton, the organiziny director for Local 74, who calles Pinnacle's actions "unlawful" and "ludicrous." “Thia has been nothing more than an attemptr by (Pinnacle Chairman and CEO) Dan Lee and the headsz of Pinnacle Entertainment to be anti-union,” he said. Mortobn said the union would consider picketinybut hasn't made any decisions yet. When asked abouty the possibility of a strike orothed action, George said: “We would hope that would not be the especially in this type of economy.
That’zs not the way we would like to If there isa strike, Lumiere has a righf to replace any workers who walk off the job, accordingb to Mack Bradley, a Lumiere spokesman. Unite HERE was formed in 2004 when a garmentworkers union, and Hotel Employeew and Restaurant Employees Union joined But the marriage wasn’t a happuy one, with garment workers claiminbg that the new leadershi p didn’t care about their needs, leading to a lot of disgruntle workers nationwide.
So in March, some workers defecter to createWorkers United, which has been competing with Unite HERE to represeny workers nationwide ever Local 74 voted in March to leavd Unite HERE to become a part of Worker United, Morton said. Workers United is now affiliatec withlabor giant, . Pinnacle Entertainmentt Inc. (NYSE: PNK) is based in Las Vegas.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Immucor responds to FDA - Triangle Business Journal:

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The Norcross-based company, which makes and suppliesa blood-reagent systems to the blood transfusion industry, said Mondauy it turned in a formal 10 workinb day response tothe . The statemenr reiterates Immucor’s commitment make corrections to addressthe FDA'ds noted deficiencies, Immucor said. The FDA, in an administrativ action based on an earlyJanuary inspection, to revoker Immucor’s biologics license with respect to its Reageng Red Blood Cells and Anti-E Blood Grouping Reagent the company said in a statement.
The FDA has not ordere the recall of any ofthe company's Immucor (NASDAQ: BLUD) said in June it spent more than $2 millionn during fiscal 2009 on improving quality system and it expects to spend up to $4.5 million in fiscap 2010. The company today said it startee a Product Surveillance and Improvement Departmenyt to support its quality system The new department will monitorquality issues, whether identifiede through internal or externak sources, and enact appropriate corrective actions. The company will provide its detailesd remediation plan and timelines in its 30 workingh day response to the FDA no lateethan Aug. 11.
"We take our regulatory responsibilitiewsvery seriously,” said Gioacchino De Chirico, Immucor president and CEO, in a “We began our Quality Process Improvement Project in early 2009 to bring our quality system up to world-claszs standards. We remain committed to completing this project as quicklyuas possible."

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Cardinals gain as Suns, Coyotes, D-backs slide in rankings - Phoenix Business Journal:

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The Cardinals ranked 33rd on this year’ s list of U.S. sports franchisee from ESPN The Magazine. The Carde ranked 84th in the same surveytin 2008, their 2009 Super Bowl run and fans approva of head coach Ken Whisenhung boosting their standing. The list is basex on a survey of 50,000 fans nationwidd and their impressions of pro sportsteams ownership, players, affordability, stadium experience and performance. The who are in last place in the Nationa League West this seasonn pretty much out of thepennanty race, still rank highest among Phoenix sports teams but droppeds from 10th place last year to 30th this according to ESPN.
The D-backx ranked second in the fan survey in termsz of pricing of ticketdsand concessions. The team has been promotinv discountfood items, souvenirs and economical ticket plans. the Cards and D-backs rankerd better than the Chicago NewYork Yankees, Dallas Cowboysz and Los Angeles Lakers on the The Los Angeles Angels — owned by Phoenix businessmanm Artie Moreno — came in first whil e the NBA’s Los Angeles Clipperzs were last among the 122 major pro sportx franchises in the U.S., according to The Phoenix Suns went from 26th place last year to 86th on this year’e survey.
Suns owner Robert Sarver and General Managefr Steve Kerr were criticized forthe team’s absencwe in the NBA playoffs this seaso and trading center Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland for financialo benefits. The Phoenix Coyotes hockey team dropped 50 spots from 2008 to 2009 cominbg inat No. 88. The Coyotes are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and ranked dead last in the ESPN surveyfor fans’ view of team Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes wants to sell the team to Canadiam billionaire Jim Balsillie who plans a move to The National Hockey League and city of Glendale, wher e the Coyotes play, want the team sold to Chicago Bulls and Whitew Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who said he would keep it in

Thursday, November 17, 2011

MillerCoors pact to serve Hispanics - Business First of Columbus:

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Through the joint MillerCoors and the Hispanic Association on Corporates Responsibility promise to increasde and enhance economic opportunities for Hispanics through increased participation in key corporatew initiatives such as leadership and workforce development, procurement and suppliert diversity, marketing and advertising, and community contributions. “Growingh and leveraging diversity will provide MillerCoors with a competitivse advantage that will not only strengthenour business, but also strengthen the Hispanidc community,” said Leo Kiely, MillerCoors CEO.
“Througu this agreement we will be able to use our collectivre power to achieve an importanrt goal for bothour organizations, to have Hispanics participating at greatee levels in our business.” The new five-year agreement is the firstr since MillerCoors was created in July 2008. Coors was a foundingb corporate member of HACR and has maintainecd an agreementsince 1986. “It is gratifying to see that MillerCoorx recognizes the growing influence of Latinos inthe marketplace, workplace and socia l mainstream, said HACR president and CEO Carlos MillerCoors is a joint venture formec by Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co. and Coora Brewing Co.
of Golden, MillerCoors operates a major brewery and regionap headquarterson Milwaukee’s west side.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Foetuses sense moms' state of mind - Hindustan Times

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Hindustan Times


Foetuses sense moms' state of mind

Hindustan Times


The foetus growing inside the mother's womb not only hears her heartbeat or the music she might play to her belly, but also gets signals about her mental state through the placenta, which effects the baby's development after birth, a new study has ...



and more »

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Warm temperatures bring big wind gusts across Metro Detroit - The Detroit News

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Warm temperatures bring big wind gusts across Metro Detroit

The Detroit News


"We had a warm front move across the area earlier in the weekend. Southerly winds are continuing to bring up warm air," Dodson said. The south winds will begin to calm by Monday, but not before they pack the region with Gulf of Mexico moisture, ...



and more »

Friday, November 11, 2011

Bay Bridge Turns 75 Years Old Saturday - The San Francisco Appeal

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The San Francisco Appeal


Bay Bridge Turns 75 Years Old Saturday

The San Francisco Appeal


by Bay City News The Golden Gate Bridge may be the most celebrated of the transbay crossings, but it isn't the oldest. The Bay Bridge is one year older, and Saturday marks its 75th anniversary. Caltrans officials announced today that it--along with the ...


Bay Bridge Anniversary: The San Francisco Bay Bridge Turns 75 (PHOTOS)

Huffington Post


Bay Lights to honor Bay Bridge's 75th anniversary

San Francisco Chronicle


Bay Bridge celebrates 75th birthday

abc7news.com


San Jose Mercury News -San Francisco Examiner


 »

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Yogurt franchise finds its sweet spot in San Antonio - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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Yogurt franchise Red Mango has signedr a development agreement with RamiroValadez III. The loca l businessman plans to open six stores in the greater SanAntonioi area. Store No. 1 is set to open in the firsg week of June at Quarry Village a residential/retail development in Nortbh Central San Antonio. Come 2010, the plan is to get two more Red Mangio stores upand running, Valadez says. Valadeza says he was attracted tothe tasty, health-conscioue treat that is the core of Red Mango.
the simple operations set up makesz it an easier concept to roll out in othef parts of the Yogurt shops are certainly not a new concept for San Case in point isOrangeCup — a chain from the Capitalo City that is currentlyy open for business at The Shops at La Cantera on the Northwesr Side. In fact, OrangeCup was recently honoref witha “Hot Retailer” Award duringf the 2009 Global Real Estate Convention (RECon) of the The award recognizes conceptse that drive customers to shopping centers around the world. Valadez, believes that Red Mangk is up for the challenge of going against competitor slike OrangeCup.
“It’s a trendy, upscald yogurt shop,” says Valadez of Red Mango. “The concepg is catching on.” The franchise agreement with Valadea is one of several that Red Mango has signed as part of its push to buildxthe chain’s presence throughout the U.S. Development deals signex in the first quarter of 2009 are poises to result in some 128 new Red Mango stores over the nextseveral years. “This has been an incredible quartedr forRed Mango, and we’rr just getting started,” says James Franks, vice presidentf of franchising for Red Mango.
“The explosive growth of our brans will help us double our network in 2009 and set the stagee to enter a series of new states inrapisd succession.” To that end, Red Mango has movef its national headquarters from Shermanj Oaks, Calif., to Dallas — a market that has embraced the concept and offers the yogurr chain significant logistical advantages, according to a recent article by the , a Busines Journal sister publication. Dallasz is also home to private equity firm CIC which madea $12 million investment in Red Mangp last August. Red Mango was founded in 2002 inSoutn Korea. In July 2007, Dan Kim brough t the concept tothe U.S.
He serve s as president and CEO of the Little wonder thatSan Antonio’s medicakl real estate market is still booming given the national stats on the health care industry. According to a recenrt analysis byRobert Bach, senior vice presidentg and chief economist for Santa Ana, Calif.-based , employers in the healthb care and social assistancr sectors have added nearly half a million jobs (495,700) sinced the outset of the economic downturnj back in December 2007. The trendsx driving this growth, Bach adds: The agingb of the Baby Boomer group and the development of new treatmen options formedical conditions.
More good news: Between Decembee 2007 and March the state of Texas was one of a handfu that saw an increase injobs — versua the many states that have lost jobs over this same time • Family fun: Mega-sports retailer will hold a Bass Pro Shopxs Family Summer Camp from May 30 to July 5. The activitiees and workshops are free of charge and will focud on such topics as the basicesof hiking, bird watching and The camps will run from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdayzs and Wednesdays, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and The local Bass Pro is located at17907 IH-10 West, in the Rim shoppin g center in Northwest San For more info, log on: www.basspro.com/camp.
Kudos: Travis Kessler, president and CEO of the San Antoniol Board ofRealtors (SABOR) has receivesd the William R. Magel Award of The award recognizes Kessler’s work as an association executivd of a local or stateRealtort association. Kessler has been involved with the organizatio n since1977 — when, just out of he went to work for the Texas Association of After stints with the Colorado and Lafayettee boards, Kessler returned to Texas in 1987 working with the . He has served in his currenft role with SABORsince 1997. : Earlier this week, Morningside Ministries, the city of Boernre and the celebrated the opening ofthe .
It includes 40 beds and a mix of privatesand semi-private suites, private showers and various amenitiesz for seniors. The Kendall Housr is one of several facilitie s that make up the Menger Springa campus ofMorningside Ministries. The entird development is located on some 34 acrex of landin Boerne, which is just northwest of San Antonio. Mengee Springs is one of threed elderly care communities owned and operatexd by Morningside Ministries in the SanAntoniok area.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Franchot: Financial questions on State Center project will require vigilance - Denver Business Journal:

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Franchot, who joined Gov. Martin O’Malley and Treasurer Nancy Kopp onthe state’es Board of Public Works in voting for the $1.4 billionn State Center redevelopment project Wednesday afternoon, said he does not know enougjh about the project’s costs to the state or whether the projecg is even practical given the nationwide credir crunch. “I believe the project has a lot of promisd and is deservingof support,” Franchot said in a telephonde interview Wednesday.
“I voted for it, but am goinv to continue to be vigilant abour the fiscal exposure to the The deal involves the state leasiny its midtown Baltimore office complex to a privatewdevelopment team, which would then redevelopl the property into a mix of offices, shopsd and homes. The state would then lease back a majority ofthe project’s 2 million square feet of officee space for use by its variousz state agencies. But the terms of the deal have not been hammeredxout yet, as Franchot and the Boarc of Public Works voted Wednesday only on a mastef development agreement.
With that agreement in place, the development team will now creates designs for its planned building s and come back to the state for approvalk on morespecific designs, costs, and lease The development team, which includes national housinv deveoper McCormack, Baron & Salazar, would borroe $888 million to finance its work, according to the Departmenr of Legislative Services. The state would issue another $338 millio in debt.
State and federakl tax credit programs would pick upanother $234 million in project costs, with the remainder of the project’s costs beingv contributed directly by the developers or other Franchot said that scenario raises severak concerns, including the ability for the stater or the developers to borrow money in the midst of the nationwidew credit crunch. He said he’s also concernex about the state’s ability to negotiater fair lease terms with the developers given they would both be heavilyh invested in making sure the projecftis successful. “The problem is that the credit marketsx arebone dry,” Franchot said.
“Obviously this is a long-term but I’m not confident that the private sector will finances this in a way that the state canafforc it.” In addition, Franchotf said he isn’t sure why the statee would make the project a priority abovr other pressing needs such as new college dormitories or othefr state-funded construction projects.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Helwig Carbon venture purchases Pennsylvania firm - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

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Formerly known as Speer SGL Carbonproduces electro-graphite materials used for carbomn brush manufacturing. “This strategic acquisition solidifies our positionn as a fully integrated manufacturer and secures our future asa high-qualitgy provider of all types of electricalp carbon products worldwide,” Helwig Carbon chairmanm Jeffrey Koenitzer said. “The availability of these well-known grades of carbon is now assured for the benefif of our customers andthe long-term securityh of our employees.” Helwig Carbon Products is a privately owned manufacturer of carbon brushes, brushholders, and mechanical carbons located at 8900 W. Towetr Ave. in Milwaukee.
Helwig serves customers in a range of industriesd includingpower generation, steel, paper, motor repair and mining. “Thiss will ensure the reliability of these materials for yeare to come and should allow us to be more competitiv ein high-volume markets,” said Jay vice president of marketing at Helwigy Carbon.