Ardagh posts good earnings report

Ardagh Group, parent of Dunkirk’s glass container manufacturing plant and the former Anchor Hocking glass plant in Winchester, posted a 24 percent rise in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2014. Revenues were 1.2 billion euros.
Earnings from glass packaging grew six percent, while overall earnings grew 43 percent.
The company is planning an initial public offering of stock in its metal packaging division later this year.
Business analysts noted Ardagh is carrying substantial debt.
Total borrowings were 5.185 billion euros at the end of 2014.

Meeker testifies
Jay County native Mary Meeker testified this week in a gender bias lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where Meeker is a senior partner.
The venture capital firm is being sued for $16 million by Ellen Pao, a former executive there.
Meeker, who rose to international prominence as an analyst of Internet stocks while at Morgan Stanley, spoke favorably of the climate for women at Kleiner Perkins.
“Kleiner Perkins is the best place to be a woman in the business,” she testified this week. She said she had never been excluded from events or passed over for promotions because of her gender.
A graduate of Jay County High School and Depauw University, Meeker is the highest-ranking woman at Kleiner Perkins.

Networking lunch
Indiana’s Bicentennial celebration will be the focus of the Jay County Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon at noon on Tuesday, March 31, in the conference room of Jay County Hospital.
E. Rene Stanley, deputy director of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, and Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman will be providing the update on events planned for 2016.

Hospital brunch
Jay County Hospital will be hosting a “brunch ’n’ learn” event at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. The topic will be over-the-counter medications. The public is invited to learn more while enjoying a continental breakfast.
Erika Muhlenkamp, pharmacy intern from Ohio Northern University, will be the featured speaker. While there is no charge for the event, reservations are required. To make a reservation, contact Kristi Henry at (260) 726-1853.

Joins bank board
Steven C. Badgett of Fort Recovery has joined the board of directors of Second National Bank, replacing retired board member Neil Diller.
Badgett, who has served as secretary of the board for six years, began his career with Second National in 1984 as manager of the bank’s Fort Recovery branch. He was transferred to the main office at Greenville, Ohio, in 2003 and is now executive vice president and senior lender. An active member of the Fort Recovery and Mercer County community, he serves on the board of the Darke County Chamber of Commerce and the board of Mercer Health Hospital in Coldwater.
Badgett and his wie Mary Ann own and operate a contract poultry layer operaton.