esource Group (HTRG) said today that it has completed its acquisition of the ownership interests of entities owning or controlling approximately 930,000 acres of timberland or timber rights from Harvard Management Company, the investment manager for Harvard University. Under the terms of the transaction, which were not disclosed, HTRG acquired timberlands located in Texas (463,000 acres), Pennsylvania (116,000 acres), New York (12,000 acres) and Washington (324,000 acres). HTRG also acquired timber management rights for 14,500 acres of timberland on the Central North Island of New Zealand. The closing of this transaction, which origin ...

poration (Nasdaq: CMOS), a leading provider of test solutions from design to production for the worldwide semiconductor industry, today announced that Dr. Graham Siddall has stepped down as executive chairman and as a member of the Credence Board of Directors. Siddall has served as executive chairman of Credence since January 2005, after serving as president and chief executive officer since 1999. Dave Ranhoff succeeded Siddall as the companys president and chief executive officer earlier this year. "My retirement was a planned next ste ...

tin Board: AVPN) announced that its Securities Act resale registration statement covering 114,259,909 shares of common stock was declared effective today. The registration statement covers 114,259,909 shares of common stock that are currently outstanding, or may be issued upon exercise of rights to acquire the shares, that AVP previously sold to the selling securities holders in private transactions. AVP will not receive any proceeds of sales of the registered shares. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of these shares in any state or jurisdiction in w ...

isition Corp., an entity owned by Newcastle Partners, L.P. and Steel Partners II, L.P., today announced that it has deferred the date it intends to commence the $14.50 per share cash tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Fox & Hound Restaurant Group (Nasdaq: FOXX) not already owned by it and now intends to commence the cash tender offer on or before December 30, 2005. The deferral is being made in light of the previous announcement on December 19, 2005 by F&H Acquisition Corp. that it has signed and deliver ...

ing Inc. (NYSE: BKD) announced today that it acquired 6 facilities from Capstead Mortgage Corporation that Brookdale has leased from Capstead since 2002. The purchase is structured as a stock transaction, at a total cost of $181 million, including a $57.5 million cash payment to Capstead. The portfolio is comprised of 6 independent and assisted living facilities, containing a total of 1,394 units and is located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Ohio and Texas. In other transactions since Brookdales IPO, the Company has acquired two portf ...

nc. (Amex: PRZ), a world class leader in the delivery of orthopedic rehabilitation, minimally invasive spine surgery and pain management solutions, today announced that it has entered into a purchase agreement with certain accredited investors with respect to the private placement of 3,305,033 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $3.10 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $10.25 million. In addition, the private placement investors have received warrants to purchase up to an additional 1,349,884 shares of common stock at ...

YSE: PBI) is providing U.S. businesses affected by the January 8th USPS postal rate change with information and guidance on mailstream best practices. Among the adjustments to postal rates, a one-ounce single-piece rate for First-Class Mail will increase from 37 cents to 39 cents, and the postcard rate will increase by one cent to 24 cents. "Helping companies through the rate change is part of Pitney Bowes ongoing commitment to serve as a postal consultant to our customers," said Michael Critelli, Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes. "In addi ...

(Nasdaq: TGIC) reported today that Ron Kessinger, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will assume the role of Senior Executive Vice President and Assistant to the President and CEO effective January 16, 2006. In his new role, Mr. Kessinger will reduce his day-to-day involvement with the Company but continue to work on strategic matters and assist the Companys newly appointed President, Mark Tonnesen, during a transition period. Mr. Kessinger has announced plans to retire later in the year following this transition pe ...

orial Advisory and Securities Review Committee of BetterInvesting Magazine today announced First Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC) as its March "Stock to Study" and The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) as its March "Undervalued Stock" for investors informational and educational use. "The committee chose First Data Corporation because of its solid long-term growth history and its reasonable valuation," said Adam Ritt, editor of BetterInvesting Ma ...

owners are sometimes shocked to receive a property tax bill based on a grossly incorrect assessed value. A Houston law firm received a tax bill that was based on an assessment value of $1 million on its business personal property when it should have been based on approximately $100,000. The problem occurred because the firms accounting clerk had mistakenly included an accounts receivable item in the rendition sent to the county appraisal district. "Fortunately, the Texas Property Tax Code provides a limited remedy for this type of gross error," says Texas property tax expert Patrick OConnor of Houston-based OConnor & Associates. Prope ...