Business In Brief - September 25, 2008

By Staff and Wire Reports - Staff and Wire Reports

Lucas McFadden returns to CN2 a anchor/producer

Lucas McFadden, former CN2 general assignment reporter, has returned to the station as anchor/ producer and will report to Laurabree Monday, news director.

McFadden, a native of Fort Lawn, was formerly at WIS News 10 in Columbia.

He is a 2001 graduate of College of Charleston.

Comporium promotes two senior managers

Doug Lundell and Dan Robertson, senior managers at Comporium in Rock Hill, have been promoted.

Lundell, former vice president and assistant to the chairman, has been named senior vice president/ assistant to the chairman and CEO.

He joined Comporium in 1992 after three years as vice president and CFO for Cable South in Birmingham.

Robertson, former senior vice president and CFO, has been named executive vice president and CFO.

He joined Comporium two years ago from Springs Industries in Fort Mill.

Regency Hospice of Rock Hill opens on India Hook

Regency Healthcare Group of Nashville, Tenn., has opened Regency Hospice of Rock Hill, a provider of hospice service and educational programs.

The office is located at 1924 India Hook Road in Rock Hill.

For more information or patient referral, call 328-2141.

Dr. Alex Ward named resident in ocular disease

Dr. Alex Ward, O.D., was named one of three residents in ocular disease at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta for 2008-2009.

Ward, son of Titus and Isa Ward of Rock Hill, is a graduate of the Interamerican University School of Optometry in Puerto Rico. He graduated second in his class with a Doctor of Optometry degree.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston and is a graduate of Northwestern High School.

Small business seminar planned at Winthrop

The Winthrop University Small Business Development Center will sponsor a "How to Start a Small Business" seminar at 6 p.m. Oct. 13 in 208 Thurmond Building on the campus.

The free seminar is for people interested in starting a small business and provides basic information on writing a business plan and applying for financing.

For more information or to sign up, call 323-2283 or visit cba.winthrop.edu/sbdc.

Springs to partner with Nickelodeon, Viacom

Springs Creative Products Group in Rock Hill has entered into a licensing partnership with Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products.

The partnership will allow Springs Creative Products Group to incorporate Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. properties, including SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly, The Backyardigans, Blue's Clues, Go, Diego, Go, Dora the Explorer, Ni Hao, Kai-la and WonderPets!, into their lines of retail fabrics and craft kits.

U.S. home sales, prices fall in August

WASHINGTON -- A record decline in U.S. home prices in August attracted more buyers in some areas and led to a sizable decline in the number of unsold homes on the market, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

The median sales price fell 9.5 percent to $203,100, the largest price decline on records dating to 1999.

The inventory of unsold homes fell 7 percent to 4.3 million, down from the record of 4.6 million in July. That's a 10.4-month supply at the current sales pace.

GM to put French factory, Hummer brand up for sale

DETROIT -- General Motors' treasurer said Wednesday that the automaker is planning to put its Strasbourg, France, manufacturing operation and its Hummer truck brand up for sale, and it might announce more asset sales later this year.

Company Treasurer Walter Borst said in a slide presentation at the Deutsche Bank Leveraged Finance Conference that the company expects to distribute marketing materials for both operations in October.

The slides posted on GM's Web site Wednesday say the assets under review are worth $2 billion to $4 billion. The presentation also says GM continues to review other asset sales and will make more announcements in the fourth quarter.

Hanesbrands to close 9 plants, cut 8,100 jobs

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Hanesbrands says it will close nine plants across five countries and cut 8,100 staffers as it increases production in Asia in a cost-saving move.

The Winston-Salem, N.C.-based maker of Hanes and Champion apparel says it is expanding its supply chain production capability in Asia and consolidating into fewer and larger plants in lower-cost countries.

It expects to close seven plants in the U.S. and Central America by the end of 2008 and will close one plant in Mexico and one in the U.S. in 2009. The company did not immediately identify which plants would be closed.

The moves will cost $76 million. Hanesbrands says it has now taken about $204 million of the $250 million in restructuring charges it expects to incur since it was spun off from food maker Sara Lee in 2006.

Hanes has about 50,000 employees in 25 countries.