The recently announced mergers of Indianapolis law firms Sommer Barnard, Ice Miller and Locke Reynolds with firms outside
the state [reported in the Dec. 8 issue] mirror a larger national trend.
Dane Hudson continues an acquisition binge aimed at making Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. a stronger health benefits broker in
the Indianapolis market.
Indianapolis is finally jumping in a big way into the merger mania that’s sweeping the legal profession.
While many central Indiana manufacturers are feeling the pinch of the downturned economy, locally based Sign Craft Industries
Inc. is posting record growth this year and projecting another robust year in 2009.
The Indy Racing League suddenly finds itself at odds with Midwestern farmers over a decision to make a Brazilian consortium
its ethanol supplier starting next year.
Retail developers always have been an audacious breed. They spend millions to build shopping centers, confident that tenants will flock to fill the slots they didn’t prelease. To charge ahead these days takes more than the usual dose of intestinal fortitude. Everyone is nervous — from shoppers to lenders to retailers, many of which have […]
Hoping to increase sales in China’s rapidly growing pharmaceutical market, Eli Lilly and Co. is charging ahead
with
plans to invest $100 million in venture capital in the region over the next several years.
Southwest is striking a deal to acquire ATA’s valuable landing slots at LaGuardia
and most of the dying airlines’ remaining assets for $7.5 million.
A rural Indiana bank that specializes in farm lending has agreed to buy Symphony Bank for less than the ambitious startup
spent to build its extravagant branch on 96th Street.
Chip Ganassi’s NASCAR team is teaming with Dale Earnhardt Inc. where Max Siegel has served as president of global operations
since early 2007, and the former Baker & Daniels attorney may be among many laid off in the merger.
Blue Real Estate, a California firm that made a bundle selling West Coast office buildings at the market’s peak, has been
buying up local buildings and trying to learn the Indianapolis market.
CEOs with Simon Property, Duke Realty Corp. and Interactive Intelligence Inc. report that their companies are taking an uncharacteristically
cautious approach to acquisitions and investments, given the faltering economy.
After a 17-year run in Indianapolis, National City’s trademark green signs are set to be replaced with the blue of Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial. The $5.6 billion deal raises questions about the government’s growing involvement in banking.
OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc. has made no secret of its desire to acquire other companies. Well, if it wants to buy,
it could hardly find a better time.
Insurance giant Safeco Corp. is expected to either vacate or scale back its downtown operation next year–a move that could
deal a major blow to the office market. At stake are about 700 downtown jobs, some or all of which could be eliminated or
shifted to the suburbs. A final decision about the fate of Safeco’s five-building downtown office complex likely will come
after Boston-based Liberty Mutual completes its $6.2 billion acquisition of Seattle-based Safeco.
An acquisition that looked daring and bold when it was announced quickly blew up on Finish Line Inc. The Indianapolis retailer
agreed in June to buy Tennessee-based Genesco Inc.–parent of Journeys, Hat World and other mall chains–for $1.5 billion
in
cash.
As struggling General Motors Corp. tries to raise cash by unloading Allison Transmission, the fate of the city’s third-largest
manufacturer hangs in the balance. But analysts say its market dominance, strong management team and abundance of private
equity could spare it the fate of other auto plants here.
Announcements that major Indiana companies have been acquired are traditionally met with trepidation. But a rash of recent
buyouts of Indiana companies shows they’re not always bad news.
