Business briefing, May 13

The Rocky

Published May 12, 2008 at 8 p.m.

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TAX PREPARING

H&R Block reports best season since '99

A late-season rush of tax filers helped H&R Block Inc. to its strongest tax season since 1999, the nation's largest tax preparer said Monday.

H&R Block reported that tax preparation revenue rose 9 percent between November and April 17 to $2.76 billion, up from $2.54 billion in the 2007 tax season.

The number of clients coming into H&R Block's network of retail offices during the final two weeks of the season rose 4.7 percent, generating a 10.6 percent surge in revenues.

GATES FOUNDATION The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation says Microsoft Corp. executive Jeff Raikes will be its next CEO.

The world's largest charitable foundation has been looking for a new leader since Chief Executive Patty Stonesifer announced in February that she would be stepping down.

Raikes has been the top executive in Microsoft's business software division, responsible for such things as the Office software suite and Microsoft's server software.

SPRINT REPORTS LOSS Wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. said Monday it had a larger first-quarter deficit as revenue fell, it lost more than a million subscribers and it absorbed charges for severance and other costs.

Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint said its loss totaled $505 million, or 18 cents a share, in the three months ended March 31, compared with a loss of $211 million, or 7 cents, a year earlier.

Not including one-time charges, earnings were 4 cents a share, compared with 18 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue fell 7.5 percent to $9.3 billion from $10.1 billion a year earlier.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected earnings of 2 cents per share on $9.4 billion in sales.

NEW SOFTWARE Microsoft Corp., seeking more revenue from Internet advertising, introduced software that allows users to exchange messages while watching online videos.

Messenger TV combines the Windows Live instant-messaging program with video software, Microsoft said. Users will be able to watch and share clips from companies such as Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks, U.K. broadcaster Channel Four and music companies Sony BMG and EMI Group Plc.

EARNINGS REPORT Douglas County-based Time Warner Telecom Inc. on Monday posted a loss of $944,000, or a penny per share, compared with a loss of $13.8 million, or 10 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2007.

Revenue rose 8 percent to $282.6 million from $261.4 million in the year-ago period.

LOCAL

Qwest agrees to wire Vikings for Internet

Qwest Communications announced an exclusive two-year agreement with the Minnesota Vikings to connect the team's stadium, practice field and offices using a high-speed Internet service up to 100 megabits per second. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Rocky staff and wire reports

THIS JUST IN . . .

* Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co. named Mitchell T.G. Graye president and chief executive officer.

* Flashback Media Productions, of Boulder, signed an agreement with Nutmeg Media to convert children's books into DVDs.

* Infinity Rehab joined the Colorado Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

* The Society for Marketing Professional Services Colorado will host its annual awards luncheon on Wednesday at Kevin Taylor's at Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver. Information: smpscolorado.org.

* The American College of Emergency Physicians named Vince J. Markovchick, of Denver Health, as a Hero of Emergency Medicine.

* Interweave hired David Pyle as vice president and publisher of the bead, gem & jewelry division.

* Gov. Bill Ritter appointed Randy Lee Evetts, of Pueblo, Dr. Gilad Gordon, of Boulder, and Adele Phelan, of Denver, to the Caring for Colorado Foundation Board of Directors.

* Colorado Case Co. signed an exclusive license agreement with Boulder-based Case Logic to design, market and distribute a line of musical instrument cases.

* A Wal-Mart Supercenter has opened at 7155 Sheridan Blvd. in Westminster. Local leaders anticipate that the store will bring economic benefits to the community, including an increase of tax revenue and about 400 jobs.

* Video Professor of Lakewood appointed Benjamin Rifkin to business development and media planner for the company's E-Commerce group.

* Dave Skinner joined mShopper as senior vice president of engineering and operations.

* Brinker Capital hired Glenda A. Pemble as a regional director for the Rocky Mountain region and Northwest.

* Colorado Press Women awarded Xstatic Public Relations with two first-place awards at its 2008 Communications Contest.

* Ann Ludvigsen, director of volunteers at Seniors' Resource Center in Wheat Ridge, received the 2008 Spirit Award for volunteerism in Jefferson County.

* Shughart Thomson & Kilroy P.C. added construction attorney Spencer L. Sears.

* Joanne Sender joined Jacobs Carter Burgess as unit manager of urban design and planning in its Denver office.

* KOSI 101.1 named Jackie Selby as midday on-air host.

* Western Union appointed Eric S. Jackson senior vice president, global corporate communications.

* Exclusive Resorts added Ian Arthur as executive vice president of marketing.

* Bohannan Huston Inc. hired Johnny Olson to its Colorado operations as vice president and senior engineer.

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