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The bank — one of 12 nationwide with the mandatre of providing liquidity toits shareholders, which are other banks — reported its first quarterlyg loss in two years, according to filings. The bank reportecd a net loss of $46.q1 million during third-quarter 2008, a $179 million decline from the same perioe theyear prior. The loss highlights how even the financial stalwarts are feeling the effects of the ongoingeconomifc crises. Created in 1932 durinfg the Great Depression asa government-sponsored entity, the Federak Home Loan Bank system’s original mandates was to spur home investment and bank lendingy after the collapse of the mortgagd lending business.
Atlanta’s with $213 billion in assets, has been one of the financiallyt strongest inthe system. As the , for reported large losses in recent years and nearly mergedf with its Dallas peer the Atlanta bank has been responsible for a significant portionb of theentire system’ds profits. But that position of strengthn maybe changing. “Even the most conservative organizations can feel the effects ofthesew mortgage-backed securities, and we’re starting to see that said Jim Linck, associate professor of finance at The . “Thde evidence suggests even the best companied are being affected in asubstantived way.
” The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s loss was primarilyg attributed to a $170.5 millio n reserve against credit losses from Special Financing’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Oct. 3, and an $87 million impairmengt charge forcertain mortgage-backexd securities. The biggest credit spikee has come inthe bank’s $16 billion private mortgage-backed securities portfolio. Through the first nine months of Atlanta homeloan mortgage-backed securities (MBS) that were downgrader or put on watch for a potential credit reductionb by ratings agencies jumped from $637 million on Jan. 1 to $2.2 billiom on Oct. 29.
The numbed of securities downgraded increased from fourto 21, and the bank addefd the write-downs as a risk facto to the business goingt forward. “Credit losses in the Bank’s MBS if significant, could have an adverse effect onthe Bank’x financial condition and results of the bank stated in its third-quarter report. Linck said that as thesw securities arenot repaid, or banks have to writse down their value to currenr market prices, those actions will impai their ability to lend, regardlesd of size.
Bank spokesman Chris McEntee said the bank was approaching the currentmarket “very and while credit problems were the bank did not see itself exposed to unnecessarty risk. While the bank reported an $87 million chargwe on mortgage-backed securities, it only anticipated $44,000 in losses from those securities, which will be full y repaid by 2025. “We’re comfortabler with the positionwe have, and it is something we constantlyt monitor,” he said. McEntee said the bank’s fundamentak business remained strong and would have been profitablr in the quarter withouty thecharges — but continuesz to see its mandate as a priority over profitability.
“We’ree here to serve our membership and providew liquidityfor them, it’s why we’re very conservatives in our collateral positions and will continue to place that he said.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Four Points Centre lands new office tenant - St. Louis Business Journal:
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“We are extremely excited to sign a leas e with such an outstanding companyas THQ,” said Mark Greinef of Oxford Commercial, the project’se leasing firm. “This lease with THQ demonstratesdthat first-class office buildings continue to attractt tenant interest even in challenging markets.” THQ will move into Four Point s this fall. Four Points Centre has 200,000 square feet of officre space, 270,000 square feet of retail space and 550multifamilgy apartments. The development will ultimately have an additional 1 millionh square feet ofoffice space, 250,000 squarde feet of retail space and a 250-room hotel.
The new leas e is significant since Four Points is in an area of Austim that has seen office vacancy rise in recen t months as millions of square feet of new producty havebeen delivered. Four Points’ apartments do have as does itsretail — includin g an HEB and Target. David Kimbalo and Keith Zimmerman with UGL Equis representecTHQ Inc. The developmentr has also been awarded Gold rating undedthe ’s Leadership in Energy and Environmenta l Design for its core and shell “As part of Opportunity Austin, we are in constant contacy with a variety of businesses contemplating moving to or growinf in Austin.
With greater frequency, companiess are seeking eco-friendly space,” said Gary Farmer, chairman of the Opportunityh Austin economicdevelopment initiative. “It’s important to have such spacwereadily available.”
“We are extremely excited to sign a leas e with such an outstanding companyas THQ,” said Mark Greinef of Oxford Commercial, the project’se leasing firm. “This lease with THQ demonstratesdthat first-class office buildings continue to attractt tenant interest even in challenging markets.” THQ will move into Four Point s this fall. Four Points Centre has 200,000 square feet of officre space, 270,000 square feet of retail space and 550multifamilgy apartments. The development will ultimately have an additional 1 millionh square feet ofoffice space, 250,000 squarde feet of retail space and a 250-room hotel.
The new leas e is significant since Four Points is in an area of Austim that has seen office vacancy rise in recen t months as millions of square feet of new producty havebeen delivered. Four Points’ apartments do have as does itsretail — includin g an HEB and Target. David Kimbalo and Keith Zimmerman with UGL Equis representecTHQ Inc. The developmentr has also been awarded Gold rating undedthe ’s Leadership in Energy and Environmenta l Design for its core and shell “As part of Opportunity Austin, we are in constant contacy with a variety of businesses contemplating moving to or growinf in Austin.
With greater frequency, companiess are seeking eco-friendly space,” said Gary Farmer, chairman of the Opportunityh Austin economicdevelopment initiative. “It’s important to have such spacwereadily available.”
Monday, March 26, 2012
30-doctor GCAP group wants to leave Alliance - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
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GCAP, a primary care group with about30 doctors, joined the hospital systekm only 20 months ago. Now it’a claiming a litany of contracty violationsthat “have seriously affected the ability of the physiciands to provide excellent health care for their many In a June 3 letter to Health Alliance CEO Ken Hanover, the doctor s list 15 complaints, including: • Lack of 12 notice on changes in contractual arrangements, includingh payment of benefits; • failure to pay vendors, leading to the “embarrassinbg shutdown of services necessary to operate our The doctors on Wednesday filed a complaintt in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be released from servicde to the Health Alliances and for damages andattorneyg fees. When it joined the Health Alliancedin 2007, GCAP was the only independent practice of its type in the area. It became a whollh owned subsidiary of the hospital whichincludes University, Jewish and Fort Hamiltonh hospitals, and the . The practice had hoped to benefit from a complete electronic health records system that could interact withthe Alliance’ws hospitals, as well as the abilitgy to expand geographically and recruit doctors more effectively.
Healtyh Alliance spokesman Tony Condia, in a writtenb statement, said the health system was "surprised and disappointed" by the letter and complaint. He said the Alliancew had initially tried to negotiatw withthe physicians, then offered independent arbitration, whicyh the practice refused. The Alliancs was preparing for preliminary discussionds to sever the relationship when the lawsuitwas "This litigation violates the terms of the service which requires us to resolve dispute s such as this with a neutral We would therefore encourage the GCAP physicianx to uphold their contractual obligations and not pursue costl litigation," according to the statement.
withdreq from the Health Alliance followingf a long court battle that begab inMarch 2006. It started operatingv independently in 2008 but only signed a fina settlement agreement inJanuary 2009. The two St. Luke hospitals similarlhy withdrew, reaching a settlement with the Health Alliancd inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has mergedf with .
GCAP, a primary care group with about30 doctors, joined the hospital systekm only 20 months ago. Now it’a claiming a litany of contracty violationsthat “have seriously affected the ability of the physiciands to provide excellent health care for their many In a June 3 letter to Health Alliance CEO Ken Hanover, the doctor s list 15 complaints, including: • Lack of 12 notice on changes in contractual arrangements, includingh payment of benefits; • failure to pay vendors, leading to the “embarrassinbg shutdown of services necessary to operate our The doctors on Wednesday filed a complaintt in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
They ask to be released from servicde to the Health Alliances and for damages andattorneyg fees. When it joined the Health Alliancedin 2007, GCAP was the only independent practice of its type in the area. It became a whollh owned subsidiary of the hospital whichincludes University, Jewish and Fort Hamiltonh hospitals, and the . The practice had hoped to benefit from a complete electronic health records system that could interact withthe Alliance’ws hospitals, as well as the abilitgy to expand geographically and recruit doctors more effectively.
Healtyh Alliance spokesman Tony Condia, in a writtenb statement, said the health system was "surprised and disappointed" by the letter and complaint. He said the Alliancew had initially tried to negotiatw withthe physicians, then offered independent arbitration, whicyh the practice refused. The Alliancs was preparing for preliminary discussionds to sever the relationship when the lawsuitwas "This litigation violates the terms of the service which requires us to resolve dispute s such as this with a neutral We would therefore encourage the GCAP physicianx to uphold their contractual obligations and not pursue costl litigation," according to the statement.
withdreq from the Health Alliance followingf a long court battle that begab inMarch 2006. It started operatingv independently in 2008 but only signed a fina settlement agreement inJanuary 2009. The two St. Luke hospitals similarlhy withdrew, reaching a settlement with the Health Alliancd inSeptember 2008. St. Luke has mergedf with .
Friday, March 23, 2012
VoIP Inc. hit with involuntary bankruptcy petition - Denver Business Journal:
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An involuntary petition was filed June 2againsyt , a voice over Internet provider, in the . The company had already said in 2008 that it eliminatecd most of its workforce and suspendex alltelecommunications operations. It is also facingy a lawsuit, filed by the in U.S. Districtf Court in Miami, alleging former executives misled investors abou the financial health ofthe company. Now, some creditorss are appealing to a bankruptcy judge to help them recovee judgmentsagainst VoIP. The petitioning creditors are of Carlsbad, with a claim of $245,559; Garyn Angel, with a clai m of $391,000; and Carrie with a claim of according tothe petition.
“The filing of the involuntaryy [bankruptcy] is not directly relatee to the SEC although I’m sure they will eventuallu overlap,” said bankruptcy attorney Craig Pugatch, of , who represents Noctuza Fund, but said he does not represen t the Angels. “A group of creditors have been attemptinbg tocollect assets. They believr assets are available.” The SEC complaint, filecd in April, alleges that, between November 2004 and May executivesrecorded $1.4 million in fictitious revenuse from purported sales of computer hardware and for management services.
It further alleges the inflated revenure raisedthe company’s overall revenue figures by 43 percengt for the year ended Dec. 31, 2004. The SEC also said managemenft knew VoIP wasstruggling financially, that the company’s actuaol revenues were substantially less than its projections and that an executive sold more than 4 milliom shares of the company’s stock to realize more than $4.4 million in profitf without properly recording the sale.
The SEC had asked the court to disgorge all of the profite the former executives made as a resuly oftheir actions, pay a civil penaltty and permanently bar them from acting as an officer or directof of a publicly held “We think the type of inaccurate public information being put out was a pervasiv problem,” Pugatch said. “We also believe insiders and lenders were notacting properly.” Attemptds to reach VoIP were not successful.
The company’sz phone number in Fort Lauderdale hadbeen
An involuntary petition was filed June 2againsyt , a voice over Internet provider, in the . The company had already said in 2008 that it eliminatecd most of its workforce and suspendex alltelecommunications operations. It is also facingy a lawsuit, filed by the in U.S. Districtf Court in Miami, alleging former executives misled investors abou the financial health ofthe company. Now, some creditorss are appealing to a bankruptcy judge to help them recovee judgmentsagainst VoIP. The petitioning creditors are of Carlsbad, with a claim of $245,559; Garyn Angel, with a clai m of $391,000; and Carrie with a claim of according tothe petition.
“The filing of the involuntaryy [bankruptcy] is not directly relatee to the SEC although I’m sure they will eventuallu overlap,” said bankruptcy attorney Craig Pugatch, of , who represents Noctuza Fund, but said he does not represen t the Angels. “A group of creditors have been attemptinbg tocollect assets. They believr assets are available.” The SEC complaint, filecd in April, alleges that, between November 2004 and May executivesrecorded $1.4 million in fictitious revenuse from purported sales of computer hardware and for management services.
It further alleges the inflated revenure raisedthe company’s overall revenue figures by 43 percengt for the year ended Dec. 31, 2004. The SEC also said managemenft knew VoIP wasstruggling financially, that the company’s actuaol revenues were substantially less than its projections and that an executive sold more than 4 milliom shares of the company’s stock to realize more than $4.4 million in profitf without properly recording the sale.
The SEC had asked the court to disgorge all of the profite the former executives made as a resuly oftheir actions, pay a civil penaltty and permanently bar them from acting as an officer or directof of a publicly held “We think the type of inaccurate public information being put out was a pervasiv problem,” Pugatch said. “We also believe insiders and lenders were notacting properly.” Attemptds to reach VoIP were not successful.
The company’sz phone number in Fort Lauderdale hadbeen
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
UK Tax on 2 Million-Pound Home Purchases May Deter Buyers - BusinessWeek
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USA TODAY | UK Tax on 2 Million-Pound Home Purchases May Deter Buyers BusinessWeek By Chris Spillane on March 21, 2012 UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne's decision to raise the tax on home purchases of 2 million pounds ($3.2 million) or more will probably crimp demand for the most sought after homes in London's best areas ... Cuts to deficit will calm Moody's nerves Budget Predictions 2: The Chancellor Strikes Back |
Monday, March 19, 2012
First Marblehead bank runs afoul of regulators - Phoenix Business Journal:
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That’s according to a cease and desisr order issued against bythe , a federal bank regulator. First Marblehead (NYSE: whose key business of packaging student loana into securities hasdried up, now faces the prospecg of pumping millions of dollars of capital into the small Rhodee Island bank to bolster its capital. The OTS ordedr says First Marblehead is requirec to maintaina $30 million deposif at the bank until it is sold or the bank’s concentrationh of private student loans is reducecd to 50 percent of Union Federal’es capital, plus any allowance for loan losses.
Firsg Marblehead also needs OTS approval before making any goldenb parachute payments tosenior executives, according to the ceasee and desist order. Union Federal Saving Bank’s problems have been chroniclefd in previous stories by the BostonBusinesas Journal. Before being acquired by First Marblehead, Union Federal Savingsa had about $40 million in But that balance sheet ballooned to morethan $600 millionb last year as First Marblehead moved some $500 million in risku private student loans onto the bank’sd balance sheet. The bank has been unsuccessful in sellinf those loans while an escalating numbert of defaults have triggeredlarge losses.
In the first quarter, for example, the North Providence-basex bank lost $26.4 million, according to federal bank filings.
That’s according to a cease and desisr order issued against bythe , a federal bank regulator. First Marblehead (NYSE: whose key business of packaging student loana into securities hasdried up, now faces the prospecg of pumping millions of dollars of capital into the small Rhodee Island bank to bolster its capital. The OTS ordedr says First Marblehead is requirec to maintaina $30 million deposif at the bank until it is sold or the bank’s concentrationh of private student loans is reducecd to 50 percent of Union Federal’es capital, plus any allowance for loan losses.
Firsg Marblehead also needs OTS approval before making any goldenb parachute payments tosenior executives, according to the ceasee and desist order. Union Federal Saving Bank’s problems have been chroniclefd in previous stories by the BostonBusinesas Journal. Before being acquired by First Marblehead, Union Federal Savingsa had about $40 million in But that balance sheet ballooned to morethan $600 millionb last year as First Marblehead moved some $500 million in risku private student loans onto the bank’sd balance sheet. The bank has been unsuccessful in sellinf those loans while an escalating numbert of defaults have triggeredlarge losses.
In the first quarter, for example, the North Providence-basex bank lost $26.4 million, according to federal bank filings.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Obama hints at amnesty for illegal immigrants - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
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He also praised U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was at a Whiter House meeting on the issue and has supporteed a legal path for undocumented immigrantzs and a guestworker program. “What’x also been acknowledged is that the 12 milliom or so undocumented workers arehere — who are not payinyg taxes in the ways that we’d like them to be payinvg taxes, who are living in the that is a group that we have to deal with in a common-sense way,” Obama said aftedr the meeting. “And I think the American people are readyy for us todo so.
But it’s going to require some heavy lifting, it’z going to require a victory of practicality and common sense and good policy makingover short-terjm politics. That’s what I’m committed to doing as president.” On his formef campaign foe, he said: “I want to especiallg commend John McCain, who’w with me today, because along with folks like Lindsey he has already paid a significantf political cost for doing therighty thing. I stand with him.” Obama also said Thursday he ismaking U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janety Napolitano a key point person on the immigrationreforkm push.
As Arizona’s former governor, Napolitanlo signed an employer sanctions bill into law and backer deployment of National Guar troops alongthe Arizona-Mexico border. She, was skeptical about a bordee wall and flirted with the idea of allowing illegal immigrants to obtainjdrivers licenses.
He also praised U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was at a Whiter House meeting on the issue and has supporteed a legal path for undocumented immigrantzs and a guestworker program. “What’x also been acknowledged is that the 12 milliom or so undocumented workers arehere — who are not payinyg taxes in the ways that we’d like them to be payinvg taxes, who are living in the that is a group that we have to deal with in a common-sense way,” Obama said aftedr the meeting. “And I think the American people are readyy for us todo so.
But it’s going to require some heavy lifting, it’z going to require a victory of practicality and common sense and good policy makingover short-terjm politics. That’s what I’m committed to doing as president.” On his formef campaign foe, he said: “I want to especiallg commend John McCain, who’w with me today, because along with folks like Lindsey he has already paid a significantf political cost for doing therighty thing. I stand with him.” Obama also said Thursday he ismaking U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janety Napolitano a key point person on the immigrationreforkm push.
As Arizona’s former governor, Napolitanlo signed an employer sanctions bill into law and backer deployment of National Guar troops alongthe Arizona-Mexico border. She, was skeptical about a bordee wall and flirted with the idea of allowing illegal immigrants to obtainjdrivers licenses.
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