Finance & Business World

Menlo Park-based Pacific Biosciences has completed a $109 million round of Series F financing.

The round includes a $50 million investment from San Diego-based Gen-Probe Inc., a maker of molecular diagnostic products and services.

Pacific Biosciences, which is developing technology for real-time detection of biological events, said it will use the new funds to support operations as the company ramps up production capabilities for the commercial launch of its PacBio RS system no fax payday loans.

The company has raised approximately $370 million in capital to date.

Source

Hewlett-Packard Co. said on Monday that its Snapfish online photo unit has acquired the video technology platform of startup Motionbox Inc.

Palo Alto-based HP (NYSE:HPQ) didn't disclose the financial terms of the deal.

New York-based video site Motionbox has more than 2.8 million members. HP said Motionbox members can continue to post, share and edit videos on the current website until Aug same day payday loans. 10.

San Francisco-based Snapfish, which has more than 85 million registered users, was acquired by HP in 2005.

Source

As public outrage over Wall Street bonuses fades a bit in the United States, the European Parliament on Wednesday approved tough new rules that limit bankers’ bonuses and align compensation with long-term financial performance.

The new rules are more rigid than any steps the U.S. has taken to regulate pay practices within the financial industry and highlights a growing divide between U.S. and E.U. policy on this key issue.

Under the new rules, upfront cash bonuses to European bankers will be capped at 30% of the total bonus, and 20% for "particularly large" bonuses. The rules also require that up to 60% of any bonus be deferred for at least three years and allow for part of it to be recovered if investments underperform. At least half must be paid in "contingent capital" and shares.

The rules are subject to a vote by the European Council and would go into effect next year. They would apply to U.S. banks based in Europe as well.

"These tough new rules on bonuses will transform the bonus culture and end incentives for excessive risk taking," said Arlene McCarthy, a British member of the European Parliament who championed the rules. "Since banks have failed to reform we are doing it for them."

By contrast, the financial reform bill passed by the House last month does not contain provisions that would cap bankers’ bonuses. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law this month assuming it also passes in the Senate.

The bill does require industry regulators to draft their own set of rules aimed at eliminating risky pay practice among banks and other financial firms. The Federal Reserve, in conjunction with other regulators, has already issued guidance along those lines.

In addition, the bill would impose new rules for how all publicly-traded companies pay top executives. Shareholders will be given a nonbinding advisory vote on how top executives are paid while in office. Shareholders also get a nonbinding advisory vote on executives’ outsized severance payments, or so-called "golden parachutes."

Critics say more needs to be done to limit the size of Wall Street bonuses, arguing that skewed compensation practices helped bring on the financial crisis pay day advance.

"The problem isn’t only how pay is structured," said Sara Anderson, an executive compensation expert at the Institute for Policy Studies. "It’s the size of pay that is still an issue."

Scott Talbott, head lobbyist for the Financial Services Round Table, supported steps to limit excessive risk taking, but said imposing uniform caps on bonuses across the industry is a mistake.

"Placing a hard cap on compensation is the wrong approach. The problem is that each employee and each company is different," he said. "One size doesn’t fit all. U.S. policymakers are right on this."

He added that many financial services companies in the United States and abroad have already taken steps to ensure that compensation practices are aligned with the interests of customers and shareholders.

Still, the piecemeal approach to regulating Wall Street bonuses in the United States is surprising given the wave of public anger that developed in the wake of the financial crisis.

The issue came to a head in March 2009 after AIG (AIG, Fortune 500) paid employees a total of $165 million in bonuses despite the fact that the giant insurance company had to be bailed out by taxpayers.

But the groundswell of anger and frustration gave way to a sense of "disempowerment" as the debate over Wall Street reform dragged on, Anderson said.

In addition, the health care reform bill and the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has also diverted some public rage from the financial services sector.

That could change, Anderson said, as the economic recovery falters and the gap between rich and poor Americans continues to widen.

"With the increasing disconnect between the people at the bottom and the people at the top, the public outrage factor could increase," she said. 

Source

As BP Plc’s costs to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico rise to more than $3 billion, the company is asking partner Anadarko Petroleum Corp. to help foot the bill.

The London oil giant has so far billed The Woodlands-based Anadarko (NYSE: APC), which holds a 25 percent stake in the Macando well, for $272 million, according to the Associated Press. It also reportedly is charging Mitsui, which holds a 10 percent interest in the well, for $111 million.

In mid-June, Anadarko Chairman and Chief Executive Jim Hackett declared that the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil spill was a preventable tragedy and “the direct result of BP’s reckless decisions and actions.”

IHe went on to say that Anadarko should not have to pay for BP’s failure to drill the well in a “good and workmanlike manner.”

Anadarko, according to AP, is evaluating the bill from BP and assessing its contractual remedies payday loan.

Anadarko, along with all the spill-related companies, has seen its stock plummet in the wake of the disaster. Shares closed on July 2 at $38.07, down sharply from $73.79 on April 20, the day of the explosion.

For its part, BP said on July 5 that the cost of the spill response to date now totals about $3.12 billion. A new ‘super skimmer’ is being tested in the Gulf but efforts have been hampered from rain and wind resulting largely from Hurricane Alex. To date, clean-up operations have recovered in total about approximately 673,497 barrels, or 23.5 million gallons, of oily liquid.

The Houston Business Journal is providing continuous coverage of the Gulf oil spill.

Source

International banking veteran Peter J. Phillips has joined the board of directors at Miami-based Pacific National Bank.

The United Kingdom native has worked for Lloyds Bank in New York and Miami for nearly 35 years, including as executive VP and regional director for the bank’s Miami division. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from Oxford University’s New College.

Owned by the government of Ecuador, Pacific National Bank has been under the scrutiny of U.S. regulators for its loan problems and compliance with anti-money laundering laws. Several board members resigned in 2009.

Phillips will chair the bank’s audit committee cash advance flexible payments.

“Peter Phillips’ managerial success over 30 years, broad experience with regulators and deep knowledge of the auditing process and risk-based management will make him a valuable contributor to our board,” stated Carlos Fernandez-Guzman, who joined Pacific National Bank as CEO in April. “His long experience in international wealth management provides invaluable insight into better serving existing and potential customers.”

Source

Financial shares rallied Friday on relief that the new version of the Wall Street reform bill is less restrictive than had been expected, but the broader market was mixed at the end of a down week on Wall Street.

Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) lost 9 points or 0.1%. The S&P 500 (SPX) gained 3 points or 0.3% and the Nasdaq (COMP) composite gained 6 points or 0.3%.

Stocks seesawed in the morning after economic growth in the first quarter was revised lower. Initially, investors showed little reaction to the news that lawmakers in the House and the Senate finalized negotiations on the most sweeping financial reform since the New Deal. But as the session wore on, the tone improved and the rally in bank shares spread to the broader market.

However, markets turned mixed near the close and trading volume amped up amid the impact of the annual rebalancing of the the Russell indexes. They include the Russell 1000 index of the largest American companies and the Russell 200 index of smaller companies.

Banks, techs, drugmakers and energy shares were among the gainers on the day, but some of the consumer product names stumbled, leaving markets mixed on the session. Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIMM) lost nearly 11% in very active trading after it reported a rise in fiscal first-quarter revenue and earnings that disappointed investors on the revenue side.

Stocks lost ground this week after a two-week advance, as economic worries resurfaced after a brief reprieve. The market has been firmly in "correction" mode - down at least 10% from the highs - for over a month now.

The recent attempt to erase those losses petered out this week amid worse-than-expected reports on housing, manufacturing and on Friday, GDP.

GDP: Economic growth in the first three months of the year progressed at a slower pace than originally reported, the government said Friday, with consumers spending less than originally thought.

GDP grew at a 2.7% annualized rate in the first quarter versus the previously reported 3%. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com thought growth would hold steady at 3%.

In other economic news, the University of Michigan’s final consumer sentiment index for June was revised up to 76 from the previous reading of 75.5. Economists thought it would hold steady, on average. The index stood at 73.6 in May.

Wall Street reform: After two weeks of negotiations following a year of work, lawmakers in Washington have combined two versions of a reform bill that will overhaul the financial system. The final bill won’t be passed for a few days payday loans.

Proposed in the wake of the financial market meltdown, the bill’s highlights include: the establishment of a consumer protection agency inside the Federal Reserve; mortgage help for the jobless; and the establishment of a council to look out for problems at major banks and throughout the financial system.

While most of the stock market was flat to lower, the financial sector rallied on relief that the part of the bill that regulates trading was not as strident as some had feared.

The government would be given the ability to regulate derivatives - complex securities that were used by speculators in a way that contributed to the collapse of the housing market. But the regulations are looser than initially proposed. Also, the government will be able to limit, but not stop, banks from making trades on their own accounts.

Financial shares rallied, with the KBW Bank (BKX) sector index adding 2.9%. Components Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500), JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500), Comerica (CMA) and PNC Financial Services Group (PNC, Fortune 500) were among the gainers.

Currency: The euro inched higher versus the dollar but remained well above the four-year low of $1.188 hit last week. The dollar was down 0.3% versus the yen. The direction of the euro and the state of global debt are expected to be in focus at this weekend’s G-20 meeting.

World markets: European markets slipped. Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 1%, Germany’s DAX gave back 0.7% and France’s CAC 40 fell 1%.

Asian markets slipped. Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.9%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.2% and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 0.5%.

Commodities: U.S. light crude oil for August delivery rose $2.11 to $78.62 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

COMEX gold for August delivery gained $10.60 to $1,256.70 an ounce after closing at a record $1,258.30 last Friday.

Bonds: Treasury prices rallied, lowering the yield on the 10-year note to 3.11% from 3.12% late Thursday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Market breadth: Market breadth was positive and volume was robust because of the rebalancing. On the New York Stock Exchange, winners beat losers seven to three on volume of 2.56 billion shares. On the Nasdaq, advancers topped decliners two to one on volume of 5.14 billion shares. 

Source

A Virginia real estate investment group has paid $4.4 million for the troubled River Haven Apartments complex in north Raleigh.

TGM Realty Investors, a subsidiary of Richmond, Va.-based Thalhimer Real Estate, purchased the property in early June after the property had gone into foreclosure January. The Community Investment Corporation of the Carolinas had taken over the property for $4 million in January. CICCAR is a consortium of 115 bank members that provide debt financing for affordable housing properties. It is a subsidiary of the North Carolina Bankers Association.

River Haven was built in 2000 with 112 two- and three-bedroom apartment units on 10.5 acres. It is located at 9310 River Haven Place off of Capital Boulevard in Raleigh. The property had a tax value of $6 million, according to Wake County records.

It is the third apartment complex TGM Realty has purchased in North Carolina. It also owns the Stonewood Apartments and Crystal Village Apartments in Durham.

Source

Swarovski will open in July a licensed boutique store at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport through a partnership with Areas USA.

The 567-square-foot space will sell Swarovski’s line of fashion jewelry, watches, home accessories and décor objects.

Swarovski already has eight licensed boutiques in the United States with locations at Foxwoods Resort Casino, John F. Kennedy Airport, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, the Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino, the Venetian Las Vegas Resort Hotel Casino and the Eldorado Hotel Casino among others. It is aiming to have between 20 to 25 licensed boutiques opened by the end of 2010.

Swarovski also runs more than 230 retail stores throughout the country.

Source

The Coosa Valley Water Supply District received a $1.5 million grant to connect several St. Clair County water systems.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration gave the grant to the district to connect Pell City, Odenville and Springville to a regional water system, said a news release.

The project will create 83 jobs and $5.7 million in private investment and build a water intake structure at the Coosa River and other improvements to support additional development and business expansion in the region.

“The Obama Administration is committed to helping communities stay competitive,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a statement. “This EDA grant will help make the vital infrastructure improvements these towns need to establish a regional water system that will support the business community and attract new jobs to the region.”

Source

Tesla Motors Inc. said Tuesday it expects its stock will sell in the $14 to $16 a share price range.

The Palo Alto-based electric car company said that it expects to raise up to $230 million between the 10 million shares it will sell in its initial public offering, the 3.3 million shares that Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to buy and 1.1 million in additional shares its underwriters have the option to buy payday advance.

The company's market cap at the high end of the price range would be about $1.5 billion.

It has applied for the ticker symbol "TSLA" to trade on the Nasdaq exchange.

Source