Tyson is winner in Hillshire fight

Tyson Foods Inc. this week won its battle to acquire Hillshire Brands, the maker of Jimmy Dean sausages and other name brand foods.
Tyson, parent company of Tyson Mexican Original, had been vying with Pilgrim’s Pride, which also wanted to acquire Hillshire.
Tyson’s final offer was $63 a share and came about two weeks after Pilgrim’s Pride had made an initial bid of $45 a share. Pilgrim’s Pride bowed out of the competition on Sunday.
But The Associated Press reported this week that the deal is not yet sealed.
“It is contingent on Hillshire not going through with its offer to acquire Pinnacle Foods Inc., which makes Birds Eye frozen vegetables and Wish-Bone salad dressings. Pinnacle could allow Hillshire to do its deal with Tyson, leaving Pinnacle with a $163 million breakup fee. Or it could force Hillshire shareholders to vote on whether they’d prefer a merger with Pinnacle,” The AP reported.
Tyson executives were confident the deal would go through.

Top performer
First Bank of Berne has been recognized as an Independent Community Bankers of America Top Performer in the June issue of ICBA Independent Banker.
The recognition is based upon First Bank of Berne’s earnings and operational efficiencies throughout 2013.
“First Bank of Berne knows their local market and they thrive because of that expertise,” said ICBA executive vice president Chris Lorence in announcing the recognition. For a complete list of top perfomers, go to www.independentbanker.org.

Adding jobs
Metaldyne M&A Bluffton LLC announced this week that it will add 13 new jobs at its Bluffton plant, which already employs 292.
The company, which makes transmission components for the auto industry, is investing $8.2 million in new equipment.
Metaldyne has more than $1 billion in annual revenue ands operates 26 plans in 13 countries.

A third office
Dr. Oakland Gaerke announced this week the opening of the third location of Clear Choice Chiropractic, which has offices in Portland and Dunkirk.
The third location will be in Hartford City and will begin accepting patients in late June. Dr. Jeremy Loney will operate the Hartford City location and will also see patients at the Dunkirk office. He’s a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

New director
The board of the East Central Indiana Regional Planning District has named Pam Price as its executive director. A project manager for the district since 2011, Price has two decades of experience with local, state and federal government. She once served as the community and government relations director for the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.
Founded in 2009, the planning district serves local governments of Jay, Blackford, Grant, and Delaware counties.

New leadership
Shanna Holland has been named executive director of Briarwood Village, Coldwater, Ohio.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, she has been assistant administrator of Piqua Manor.  She resides in New Knoxville.

ATI acquisition
Allegheny Technologies Inc., parent company of Portland Forge, has acquired Hanard Machine Inc. of Salem, Ore., a company that performs precision machining on components made from titanium alloys, nickel-based alloys, aluminum, specialty steel, and other metals.Hanard’s primary markets are the aerospace, defense, and oil industries. The company will operate as ATI Cast Products.

Top 25 HVAC
Ivy Tech Community College has been ranked as one of the top 25 schools for heating, ventilation and air conditioning programs in the country. The rating was made by HVACclasses.org.
HVAC degrees are offered by the East Central and Richmond campuses of Ivy Tech among others.[[In-content Ad]]