Indianapolis Business Journal

Oesterle sells land to Angie’s List, reaping millions

Angie’s List Inc. CEO Bill Oesterle has collected millions of dollars over the years by renting to the company property for its campus along East Washington Street. Now, the landlord and chief executive is pocketing millions more by selling Angie’s the property, at well above its assessed value.

Firms ladle trips, car allowances on top of rich pay packages

Senior executives at Indiana's public companies last year received, on average, more in perks than the typical Hoosier earned all year, IBJ found after reviewing Securities and Exchange Commission documents for more than 60 Indiana companies.

Centerfield rounds up $171M for new fund

An Indianapolis private investment firm has raised one of the largest-ever funds in the state. Centerfield Capital Partners pulled in $171 million that it plans to invest in about 20 companies. Its two previous funds totaled $60 million and $116 million.

Athenaeum weighs bids for surface lot redevelopment

Three developers are competing to build a mixed-use project likely to include a parking garage on a surface lot adjacent to the historic Athenaeum building.

Nancy Irsay puts party pavilion, home on market for $3.7M

Dozens of small charities have used the pavilion in south Carmel to host events, paying far below market rates.

WISH-TV rakes in bucks with city’s only locally produced lifestyle show

“Indy Style”–an hour’s worth of TV programming on everything from recipes to music to fitness to screen-door-repair tips–fills its show with guests who are a combination of invited guests, sponsors and one-time-only advertisers.

Spate of banking mergers may be just the beginning

First Merchants Corp. CEO Michael Rechin thinks a wave of bank mergers is coming—driven by financial institutions’ quest to increase profits in an environment where super-low interest rates continue to squeeze margins.

Mobile health apps could cut into state companies’ market share

The future of Indiana’s sprawling health care and life sciences industry might be threatened by an unlikely source: smartphone apps.

Indiana device makers absorbing Obamacare excise tax

The state’s medical-device companies are finding that they cannot pass on the new medical-device tax created by Obamacare to their hospital customers, causing them to continue to make cuts and to look to foreign markets for more profitable growth.

Study rebuts hospitals’ argument on Medicare, rising costs

Rather than raising prices on private health insurers to make up for inadequate payments from the government, hospitals across the country have been raising prices just because they can, according to a new study.

PINCUS: State needs better life sciences startup ecosystem

Indiana’s life sciences sector is mostly composed of legacy companies.

EDITORIAL: CEOs should buy their own perks

It’s no secret that CEOs of public companies make a lot of money.<br><br>And in general, they earn it: It takes talent, hard work and vision to oversee thousands of employees, answer to impatient shareholders, guard against competitive threats, and keep the trains running on time, particularly at behemoths like Eli Lilly and Co., WellPoint Inc., Cummins Inc. and Simon Property Group Inc.

MORRIS: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help

Obama’s troubles might save us from his heavy-handed, second-term agenda.

DAVIS: Support workers’ volunteerism

With businesses everywhere working to attract and retain great talent and customers, giving back to the community can end up on the back burner. The time and effort required to connect with charities, plan events and provide time off from critical business focus initially seems to be counterproductive. This paradigm leaves many leaders scratching their heads about corporate social responsibility.

KENNEDY: We the ignorant people

Like it or not, the United States is a country where, increasingly, people read different books and newspapers, visit different blogs, watch different television programs, attend different churches and even speak different languages.

Skarbeck: Financial markets brace for era of social media

Two recent episodes have regulators scrutinizing the role social media plays in the investment markets.

Hicks: Firing of Heritage researcher shows cowardice

A recent study by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, sheds a great deal of light on the sausage mill of policy research, and the courage and integrity of the process of policy research altogether.

ALTOM: When it comes to big purchases, don’t follow the crowd

The most popular tech product isn’t necessarily the one that is best for your business.

School choice segregates

Reflecting on the [May 13] article &ldquo;Trying to Reclaim a Legacy,&rdquo; please don&rsquo;t forget another group of people who took a risk: the taxpayers.

Transit skeptic lists demands

You ask how to get non-believers on board [May 13 editorial].

1. Show me one mass transit system in the nation that is self-supporting, including upkeep and depreciation with excess inflow of cash.

Stick to oval racing roots

Thanks for Benner’s [May 6] column. There are far too many street/grand prix races already.

Kessler Mansion neighbors balk at business uses

An Indianapolis City-County Councilor is looking into the possibility of zoning violations at the massive north-side property. The mansion will host a camp for entrepreneurs in June.

Eco devo veteran takes over Hamilton County Alliance

Former state Department of Commerce Chief Tim Monger took the reins of the economic development group after financial woes forced the organization to reevaluate priorities. He plans an aggressive approach.

Convenience stores sue to sell cold beer in Indiana

An industry trade group filed a lawsuit Tuesday morning contending that Indiana liquor law is unconstitutional and unfairly benefits liquor stores.