Business Briefings, July 10

Rocky staff and wire reports

Published July 9, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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Richard Wiscott

Janet Lowe

NATIONAL

Comcast pairs with Vonage to improve Internet calling

Comcast Corp. said Wednesday it will collaborate with Vonage Holdings Corp., the leading independent Internet phone service, to make sure that Internet calling will work well for its subscribers.

Comcast, the country's largest cable company, is being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission for what critics say is a heavy-handed approach to management of its subscribers' Internet traffic. It has been hampering or blocking certain types of file-sharing. Comcast said it will work with Vonage to ensure that its new network management techniques balance congestion-fighting with the need to ensure that Internet calling services like Vonage function.

ANHEUSER REQUEST Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. is asking its shareholders to reject a proposal from Belgian brewer InBev to replace Anheuser-Busch's board of directors.

On Wednesday, Anheuser-Busch filed a consent solicitation with the Securities and Exchange Commission that says Anheuser-Busch should keep its board because it will represent the interests of shareholders more than a board that is hand-picked by InBev.

BOEING OUTLOOK The Boeing Co. on Wednesday raised its outlook for spending on commercial airplanes over the next 20 years by 14 percent, helped in part by an expected 5 percent rise in worldwide air travel and the demand for new, more fuel- efficient planes.

In its annual forecast, Boeing said it expects 29,400 new planes to enter commercial fleets by 2027, worth an estimated $3.2 trillion. That's higher than last year's outlook, which had called for 28,600 new passenger and freighter planes valued at $2.8 trillion.

STEWART EXPANDS In its first foray into Wal-Mart stores, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. said Wednesday it will expand its Martha Stewart Crafts line with the world's largest retailer starting this month.

The New York-based media and merchandising company said two new assortments - Martha Stewart Create and Martha Stewart Celebrate - will make their debut in Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. and Canada.

WIND FARM INVESTMENT General Electric Co., the world's biggest maker of power generation equipment, said it will invest $100 million in three wind farms under construction in northern and western New York.

The investment by GE Energy Financial Services brings the total commitment in renewable energy to more than $4 billion, the company said.

IN-FLIGHT CUTS Better bring a book on flights.

US Airways says it will start removing in-flight entertainment systems on domestic flights in November to save about $10 million annually in fuel and other costs.

Spokesman Phil Gee says the movie systems weigh about 500 pounds each, forcing planes to use more fuel.

LOCAL

Children's Hospital opens surgery center in Lone Tree

Children's Hospital on Wednesday said it opened an ambulatory surgery center in Lone Tree as the medical center expands services.

The 10,000-square-foot facility is staffed by Children's physicians and nurses and provides services including gastroenterology, orthopedics and dentistry.

The Aurora-based Children's Hospital has 14 Children's Care centers throughout Colorado.

ECONOMY

June foreclosures up 50 percent over '07

The number of homeowners stung by the rout in the U.S. housing market jumped last month as foreclosure filings grew by more than 50 percent compared with June a year ago, according to data released today.

Nationwide, 252,363 homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice in June, up 53 percent from the same month last year, but down 3 percent from May, RealtyTrac Inc. said.

Foreclosure filings increased from a year earlier in all but 11 states. Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida and Michigan continued to have the highest foreclosure rates.

Economists project 2.5 million homes nationwide will enter the foreclosure process this year, up from about 1.5 million in 2007.

Analysts say the mortgage industry's effort to assist troubled borrowers is being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the crisis. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said this week that many foreclosures are "not preventable," citing borrowers who "took out mortgages they can't possibly afford and they will lose their homes."

THIS JUST IN...

* Johnson & Wales University added Richard Wiscott as dean of academic affairs.

* Albert Leary joined Centennial-based Trust Company of America as vice president of sales.

* The Clark Law Firm P.C., a criminal defense firm headed by Philip Clark, opened in March.

* DLR Group was selected to design the new Pueblo County Judicial Building.

* The Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect received gifts totaling $900,000 from The Gary-Williams Co.'s Foundation and The Gates Family Foundation.

* Sherri Hammons joined PaySimple as vice president of engineering.

* Wendy Schuman, property manager for Opus Northwest Management, received LEED accreditation.

* The American Indian College Fund appointed Marsha Whiting project grant administrator.

* Inovonics named Chris Larcinese as vice president of sales and marketing, Chris Allen and Bruce Uphoff as regional sales managers, and David Foth as product manager for security end-devices.

* The Society for Human Resource Management named McWhinney Real Estate Services of Loveland, InsureMe of Englewood and the Integer Group of Lakewood in its 50 Best Small and Medium Companies to Work for in America for 2008.

* Guttau Public Relations was hired by Purple Crayons Interactive, Studio Bead and Angie Buckley Photography.

* Vectra Bank Colorado promoted Janet Lowe to head its private banking department.

* Point B Solutions Group LLP promoted Jan Mueller and Tim Larson to managing directors of the Denver practice.

* Merle Norman Studio added Margaux Doyle as a facial consultant and color specialist.

* GlobaLinks of Denver appointed Mona M. Miller as director of its EuroLearn study abroad programs.

* The Boulder Innovation Center hired Julie Dye and Lisa Bell as program managers for the Natural & Organic Boulder Area Business Program.

* 90OCTANE LLC promoted Christy Roth to project manager and hired Chris Shea as Web developer.

* Peter Yesawich Jr. joined Karsh\Hagan as director of interactive marketing.

* The Women's Estate Planning Council named Kim Curtis, Cathy Schwartz, Carol Wilson, Maura Ridge, Nora Roth, Darla Daniel, Dana Sandoval, Myra Donovan, Lisa Porcella, Erica Johnson, Amy Berk, Leslie Karotkin and Kristi Sullivan to its 2008-2009 board.

* FGeoResources Inc.'s Northern Division promoted Tim Muniz to vice president of operations and Jennifer Foy to senior landman.

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