A study released yesterday by the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors shows widespread interest in expanding mass transit in the area. More than three of four respondents in all nine counties surveyed – even largely rural Hancock and Shelby – said they saw a need for improved mass […]
Stock in ITT Educational Services Inc. shot up 6.7 percent this morning, to $77.67 a share, after the Carmel-based technical school operator reported a 26-percent increase in third quarter profit. Net income rose to $50.2 million, and enrollment of new students soared more than 19 percent above the same period last year, as students returned […]
An influx of students going back to school in sluggish economic times drove third-quarter profit 26 percent higher for ITT Educational Services Inc., the Carmel technical school operator reported today. Profit shot to $50.2 million, and enrollment of new students soared more than 19 percent from the same period last year. The $1.28 in earnings […]
The Steak n Shake Co. has hired an executive to improve operating efficiency of its restaurants as part of an overall turnaround plan. The appointment of Dennis Roberts, formerly chief operations officer at Massachusetts-based Friendly’s Ice Cream, was announced in a letter issued late yesterday by Steak n Shake Chairman and CEO Sardar Biglari. Biglari, […]
The new Honda assembly plant at Greensburg has started mass production of the company’s Civic compact after several weeks of ramping up various components of the sprawling site. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana said today that the first Civic, a black sedan, rolled off the sole assembly line at 7:50 this morning. It won’t be shipped […]
Larry Bird has settled a lawsuit against a bed-and-breakfast that operates from his boyhood home in the southern Indiana town of French Lick. Attorneys for the basketball icon and Legend of French Lick LLC would not discuss the settlement, saying the parties had signed a confidentiality agreement. The Web site of Legend of French Lick […]
Stock in Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. and ImClone Systems Inc. fell slightly today – a day after reports surfaced that Lilly has made a $6.1 billion offer for the New York-based cancer drug developer. Lilly shares fell 40 cents to $43.30, and ImClone stock slipped 11 cents to $65.24. The declines came on a […]
Community shopping center developer Kite Realty Group Trust said today that it has raised about $50 million by selling stock, a move the company says positions it to pursue growth opportunities. The offering met with strong demand from investors. The Indianapolis-based company sold 4.7 million shares, 1.7 million more than the minimum it hoped to […]
After 12 years of leading Indiana’s bread-and-butter manufacturing industry, carmaking has taken a second-row seat. Chemicals have grown to become the biggest segment within manufacturing, according to a new study by the Indiana Business Research Center. Chemicals-defined by government statisticians to include pharmaceuticals-dislodged automaking in 2004. Study author Timothy Slaper thinks the trend will last […]
ImClone Systems Inc., the New York cancer drug developer said to be in talks to be acquired by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co., disclosed late yesterday that the suitor had “completed due diligence and made a proposal not subject to financing or further due diligence.” ImClone didn’t identify the suitor, but said it is a […]
General Finance Corp. said yesterday that it has closed its $159 million purchase of Pac-Van Inc., the Indianapolis company that leases mobile offices and storage units. Pasadena, Calif.-based General Finance announced in July that its GFN North America Corp. arm would acquire Pac-Van parent Mobile Office Acquisition Corp. to enter the North American market for […]
Anderson officials fear they will lose an economic development prospect because tax constraints imposed by the Legislature have crimped the amount of incentives the city can offer. Mayor Kris Okomon mentioned the shortfall in a recent political meeting, saying the city might lose the competition for a foreign alternative energy company. Linda Dawson, who leads […]
Indianapolis-based Finish Line reported a second fiscal-quarter profit of $13.1 million yesterday, after posting a $1.8 million loss a year earlier. The 24-cents-a-share profit in the period ended Aug. 30 was better than the 17 cents anticipated by analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. Sales increased 3.9 percent, to $353.3 million-barely meeting expectations. Sales at stores […]
The Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation imagines a future where pieces of the RCA Dome roof are sprinkled throughout the city as everything from picnic shelters to shades for pool lifeguards. Director Stuart Lowry said the district hopes to salvage as much of the seven-plus acres of roof as can be taken down safely […]
Zionsville-based Traders Point Creamery has named a former Ben & Jerry’s executive as president. Charles “Chuck” M. Green said he plans to double sales to more than $5 million within the next 12 months, possibly by forming a cooperative with farmers to supply milk from grass-fed cows. Traders Point produces organic cheese, milk, yogurt, ice […]
Ricker Oil Co. Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire all 32 BP convenience stores in the Indianapolis area. The buyer is an Anderson company that owns 29 Marathon and BP convenience stores, primarily in Fort Wayne and Anderson. Ricker said yesterday that the BP franchise will continue at most of the locations, which are […]
Eli Lilly and Co. can restore its image and improve its stock price by doing a better job of touting benefits of the drugs it sells and turning research into new products faster. That’s the strategy CEO John Lechleiter planned to lay out today during a lunchtime speech to the Economic Club of Indiana. IBJ […]
Indiana Business College is expanding outside the state for the first time in its 106-year history. The company plans to open a $2 million campus in Columbus, Ohio, in September 2009. The 15,000-square-foot facility will be built by Indianapolis developer Browning Investments and leased to the college. A site will be chosen from two potential […]
Capital Group Cos., the Los Angeles-based parent of mutual fund giant American Funds, said today that it plans to add enough space at its 24-acre campus in Carmel to support an additional 500 employees. If the privately held company were to fill the new buildings, total employment would come to 1,500 – a 50-percent boost. […]
Sluggish sales of new heavy trucks have prompted parts supplier Accuride Corp. to switch out its president and CEO and lay off 392 employees, the Evansville company announced this morning. Directors have accepted the tendered resignation of John R. Murphy and named independent director William M. Lasky as interim president and CEO. Lasky is chairman […]
