“German business optimism rises in December - 630 WMAL” plus 4 more

German business optimism rises in December - 630 WMAL
Merck to Buy Avecia’s Contract Manufacturing Biologics Business - Genetic Engineering News
Yvonne King Burch, who launched her musical clan into show business as ... - Minneapolis Star Tribune
100 Starving Sled Dogs Seized From Colorado Racing Business - FOX News
Business outsourcing firm WNS chairman steps down - Boston Globe

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German business optimism rises in December - 630 WMAL

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 12:35 AM PST

BERLIN (AP) -- German business confidence rose for a ninth consecutive month in December as Europe's biggest economy continued to recover steadily from its worst recession in decades, a leading survey showed Friday.

The Ifo business climate index rose to 94.7 points - its highest level since July 2008 - from 93.9 points in November. The increase was modestly higher than market expectations and stoked hopes that the recovery is on track.

"After the dramatic economic collapse last winter, these survey results should bring some Christmas cheer," said Ifo president Hans-Werner Sinn.

The Ifo index is based around 7,000 monthly survey responses from firms in manufacturing, construction, wholesaling and retailing. Its long-run average stands at just below 96.

Overall, Ifo indicated that firms are more positive about their current situation - the sub-index swelled to 90.5 points from 89.1 points the previous month. Expectations for the next six months rose too to 99.1 from 98.9 in November.

"The upward trend for expectations has slowed down but remains unbroken, which bodes well for a continuing recovery also during the first half of 2010," Klein said. "That being said, risks for a temporary setback later on during 2010 remain sizable, in which case a sustained return to solid economic growth may only occur in 2011."

Germany's economy returned to modest growth in this year's second quarter. The government has forecast it will grow by 1.2 percent next year after contracting by 5 percent in 2009.

In its survey report, Munich-based Ifo said the climate in the manufacturing sector improved over the previous month, though the businesses were still "somewhat more reserved" about their expectations for the coming six months. The climate in the construction sector brightened slightly.

The wholesaling and retailing sectors also improved, indicating that the economic recovery, which has been mainly seen in industry, will spread to the consumer sector.

In an effort to boost spending, Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday approved tax cuts for companies and families - the final legislative hurdle for the plan, which is to go into effect in January.

The so-called "growth acceleration law" is supposed to bring tax relief of around euro8.5 billion ($12.2 billion) a year.

The states of Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony, had threatened to block the law, fearing that they would lose around euro2.3 billion in tax revenue annually. But they gave up their resistance after receiving promises of greater federal investment into education in return.

Alexander Koch, an analyst with UniCredit, said the Ifo survey supports the government's prediction of gradual growth.

"An abrupt end to the current vibrant rebound in German industry is not in sight," he said in a research note. "Although business expectations face increasing headwinds, with strong temporary support factors increasingly fizzling out, we still see chances for a further moderate improvement at the beginning of 2010."

Merck to Buy Avecia’s Contract Manufacturing Biologics Business - Genetic Engineering News

Posted: 17 Dec 2009 07:02 AM PST

Dec 17 2009, 10:05 AM EST

Merck to Buy Avecia's Contract Manufacturing Biologics Business

GEN News Highlights

Merck is to acquire Avecia's contract manufacturing biologics business, Avecia Biologics. The transaction, which is still subject to regulatory clearance, does not include Avecia's U.S.-based oligomedicines business. Financial details have not yet been disclosed.

If ratified, the deal will be effected through Merck's affiliate, Merck Sharp & Dohme. Merck will acquire all of the assets of Avecia Biologics, including its process development and scale-up, manufacturing, quality, and business support operations in the U.K. The company said it plans to honor all Avecia Biologics' contractual obligations and will talk with its customers to determine ongoing and future biological process development and manufacturing requirements after the deal has been completed.

"This transaction follows an initial strategic development and supply relationship with Avecia Biologics and will provide us with an operational facility staffed by an experienced workforce that is highly skilled in a broad portfolio of bioprocess systems," comments John T. McCubbins, senior vp of Merck's manufacturing division's biologics and therapeutic protein operations.

Avecia Biologics offers process development and manufacturing services from preclinical to commercial scale. The company's technologies include the pAVEway™ platform for the production of therapeutic proteins. pAVEway is based on a set of protein expression plasmids, which the company claims can be customized to generate soluble, secreted, and insoluble expression.

In March 2008 Avecia Biologics sold its biodefense vaccines business to PharmAthene for $40 million.

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Yvonne King Burch, who launched her musical clan into show business as ... - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:20 AM PST

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Yvonne King Burch, who gained early fame as one of the singing King Sisters during the big band era before launching her entire extended musical clan into show business as the King Family, has died. She was 89.

Burch died in a Santa Barbara hospital Sunday, where she was taken for injuries she suffered in a fall last week, said her daughter, Tina Cole.

Burch was the matriarch of the King Family, a popular and enduring show business dynasty.

She spent three decades singing and recording with the King Sisters, one of the most popular vocal groups of the 1930s and 1940s. A Grammy nomination for their Capitol Records album "Imagination" capped the group's career in 1959.

In 1963, Burch conceived and produced a benefit concert with her sisters and three dozen relatives including brothers, husbands, wives, aunts, uncles and children that marked the debut of the King Family.

The King Family appeared on "The Hollywood Palace" before headlining their own TV special. Strong fan response led to two variety series and 17 specials during the 1960s and 1970s. The family appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and performed with entertainment legends, including Bing Crosby and Dean Martin.

Besides landing a national concert tour, the clan recorded five albums for Warner Brothers. The family showcased its multigenerational talent with performances by the King Cousins and the King Kiddies.

The King Sisters performed and toured with big bands led by Horace Heidt and Artie Shaw before starting their own orchestra with Luise King's husband, Alvino Rey. They made it big in the 1930s and 1940s with jazzy, four-part harmonies on a series of hits, including "Mairzy Doats," "Miss Otis Regrets" and "The Hut-Sut Song."

Burch was married for 39 years to William Burch, a longtime radio and TV producer who died in 2005.

She had two children with her first husband, musician Buddy Cole, who died in 1964.

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Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com

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100 Starving Sled Dogs Seized From Colorado Racing Business - FOX News

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 01:10 AM PST

HARTSEL, Colo. — About 100 starving sled dogs have been seized from a racing business in Colorado.

Colorado's state veterinarian says an anonymous tip led authorities to Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs in the Park County town of Hartsel, about 70 miles southwest of Denver. The company's phone number isn't listed.

Authorities say they found six dead husky-type dogs and seized 30 starving dogs immediately. On Thursday, animal protection authorities took the remaining 70 dogs.

Dr. Keith Roehr, the state vet, says the dogs were malnourished and that one has since died. He says the dogs were all crossbreeds of Alaskan descent used in sled racing.

Roehr called conditions at the open-air kennel "deplorable."

Park County sheriff's officials were investigating the dogs' owners, Sam and Diane Walker, for possible animal neglect charges. As of Thursday afternoon no one had been charged.

Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore said the Walkers are cooperating with investigators but will likely face criminal charges in coming days.

The surviving dogs have been sent to animal shelters in at least nine different Colorado counties and will be available for adoption after their health improves, Gore said.

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Business outsourcing firm WNS chairman steps down - Boston Globe

Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:13 AM PST

Shares of WNS, based in Mumbai, India, fell 52 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $14.14 in afternoon trading.