Crain's Cleveland Business articles from February 2008

Crain's Cleveland Business archives from February 2008

HOT COMMODITY; As steel prices climb, buyers consider passing along costs, switching to foreign suppliers.
February 4, 2008... Byline: DAVID BENNETT Rapid-fire steel price increases caused by escalating raw material costs and a big drop in foreign steel imports have Northeast Ohio steel buyers looking at 2008 with trepidation. Hot-rolled sheet steel prices in...

U. of Akron undeterred by project's debt; Officials confident that $500M plan will pay for itself despite school's highly leveraged status.(News)
February 4, 2008... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND As the University of Akron embarks on the second phase of its $500 million Landscape for Learning renovation and construction project, the school is upbeat about its ability to repay the $432 million in debt it has...

Bad stuff.(Opinion)(state and federal agencies to start criminal inquiries )
February 4, 2008... Add the FBI to the mix of state and federal agencies exploring potential misdeeds that contributed to the debacle known as the subprime mortgage lending crisis. All these efforts strike us as trying to close the barn door after the horses have...

Legal sharks start circling Nat City with class actions.
February 4, 2008... Byline: SHAWN A. TURNER Local legal experts expect more class-action law firms to jump on the bandwagon of firms that already have filed suit against National City Corp. for alleged misrepresentation of the beleaguered banking company's...

Milestones.(The Insider)
February 4, 2008... COMPANY: Layton Physical Therapy, Mentor THE OCCASION: Its 20th anniversary Loretta A. Layton founded the company in late 1987 after serving as acting director and clinical coordinator of education for what is now University Hospitals...

Insurer Geico looks to enter enemy's camp; Rivalry with Progressive, availability of seasoned call center help may lure Berkshire unit to region.
February 4, 2008... Byline: STAN BULLARD Geico, the auto insurer behind TV advertising's in-your-face caveman, is hunting for a site for a call center that could employ as many as 400 workers on archrival Progressive Corp.'s home stamping grounds. Real...

Osborn looks to hit a home run with bigger focus on sports design; Cleveland firm part of minor-league project in Avon.(News)
February 4, 2008... Byline: STAN BULLARD Osborn Engineering Co. is accenting its stadium-design roots, which reach all the way back to Cleveland's League Park in 1909, by renaming its architecture unit OSports - Osborn Sports + Recreation Architecture as part...

Despite slowdown, private equity climate still healthy.(Finance)
February 4, 2008... Byline: KATHY AMES CARR While the nation's private equity industry faces uncertain times in the face of a credit crunch that squashed some activity in mid-2007, some local firms say they are cautiously optimistic and remain relatively...

Bankruptcies.
February 4, 2008... The following businesses recently have filed for protection from creditors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Akron or Cleveland. Chapter 11 is a court-approved reorganization plan. Chapter 7 is a total liquidation. Chapter 13 is personal...

Late News.(Interactive marketing company Tenth Floor Inc)(Cuyahoga County commissioners plan)(tenants out of Tower City)
February 4, 2008... MASS. COMPANY BUYS MARKETER TENTH FLOOR Interactive marketing company Tenth Floor Inc. in Cleveland has been acquired by publicly traded Bridgeline Software Inc. of Massachusetts in a deal that could approach $4 million in value. Tenth...

SERVING DEMAND; Northeast Ohio data centers are expanding their operations to accommodate the ever-growing need for secure information storage.(Insight)
February 4, 2008... Byline: CHUCK SODER Computers are taking over offices where people now sit at Expedient Inc.'s Garfield Heights data center. New data security rules and regulations, as well as a growing number of software programs that run over the...

Developers see promise in our region.(Opinion)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Brian Tucker Developers were in the news all over Northeast Ohio last week, giving some evidence that despite all the gloom in the nation's business press about the subprime lending mess and foreclosure crisis, some things are...

Crain's Multimedia.(News)
February 4, 2008... Batting around some business ideas Former Cleveland Indians slugger Andre Thornton talks about his supply chain management company, ASW Global in Mogadore, as well as minorities in business and his life after baseball. Tell us all...

Extensive, timely due diligence affords buyers latitude on price.(Finance)
February 4, 2008... Byline: David Dunstan Chances are, you wouldn't buy a home without inspecting the structure, scouting the neighborhood, surveying the prices of comparable homes, determining the property taxes, assessing the school system, reading the...

KSU unveils materials informatics center.(News)(Center for Materials Informatics)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Kent State University has established a Center for Materials Informatics. The materials informatics field focuses on using materials and composites to imitate skin, muscles, bones and neurons. It also includes the creation of materials to...

The week in quotes.(News)
February 4, 2008... "It's shaping up as a volatile (steel) pricing year.'' - Robert Pelles, president, Premium Metals Inc. Page One "There are going to be many additional cases rising out of the subprime mess.'' - Patrick J. Perotti, partner, Dworken...

STAKING THEIR CLAIM; As U.S. dollar loses ground, overseas suitors line up to acquire American assets.(Finance)
February 4, 2008... Byline: SHAWN A. TURNER The mergers and acquisitions world is likely to get a little bit smaller during the coming months, according to deal-making experts around Northeast Ohio. The drop in value of the U.S. dollar has provided an...

Reporters' Notebook; Behind the news with Crain's writers.(The Insider)
February 4, 2008... Imagine, a funny securities analyst Following a presentation he gave last Tuesday, Jan. 29, at an analysts' conference in New York, National City Corp. chairman and CEO Peter Raskind once again was posed the $1 million question. An...

Minimizing fear critical to smooth transition.(Finance)
February 4, 2008... Byline: BRAD DICKEN Fear comes free of charge with mergers and acquisitions. Deals are struck, and then comes the day when the comfortable culture a company has developed over the years crashes together with what workers at another...

Women of Note.(News)
February 4, 2008... Women of accomplishment. Women of perseverance. Women of character. Such are the women Crain's Cleveland Business will profile in its Women of Note section, which will run in the June 2 issue. We are seeking recommendations from readers...

Management presentations key to earning second date.(Finance)
February 4, 2008... Byline: JENNIFER KEIRN If selling your company is like a courtship, then the management presentation is that all-important first date - a time to invite prospective buyers in and show them the company behind the proposal. In today's...

The Big Issue.(Opinion)
February 4, 2008... What would you do with a government refund check? Kristin Rogers Cleveland Pay off all my furniture in my new apartment. Dorigen Cowling Cleveland I'm probably going to end up paying off bills from the holidays. ...

The Week: January 28 - February 3.(The Insider)
February 4, 2008... The big story: For the second time in as many weeks, the Federal Open Market Committee cut the federal funds rate, this time by one-half point, to 3%. KeyCorp and National City were among the banks to follow the Fed's lead last Wednesday by...

Going Places.(People)(Cleveland Clinic Foundation appoints Deb Lonzer)(Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland promotes Nadine M. Wallman to vice president)(CH2M Hill Companies Ltd. promotes Cindy Juliano to traffic engineering manager)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... JOB CHANGES Architecture KA ARCHITECTURE: Todd A. Brandt, Ruta Greiner, Ibrahim Hakki, John S. Tepfenhart and Richard A. Wilden to principals. Distribution NACSCORP: Sean O'Donnell to vice president, sales and marketing. ...

Yes on Issue 15.(Opinion)(needs of the poor and the aged in Cuyahoga County continue to grow)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... The needs of the poor and the aged in Cuyahoga County continue to grow, which makes passing the county's health and human services replacement levy on March 4 a must. Issue 15 will give the county another $18.6 million to provide services...

IRS provides rules for deducting restructuring costs.(Small Business)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Carl Grassi In an ever-changing marketplace, it is not uncommon for entrepreneurs to start a new business or restructure an existing business. The associated costs can be expensive. Fortunately, some or all of these costs may...

Senators ask schools to justify hefty endowments; CWRU, Oberlin among those whose $500M tax-exempt endowments will be analyzed.(News)
February 11, 2008... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Case Western Reserve University and Oberlin College are going to need to justify to the federal government why their endowments exceed $500 million and how such large endowments benefit students of the two schools....

Going Places.(People)
February 11, 2008... Job Changes Engineering PETERS, TSCHANTZ & ASSOC. INC.: Christine Duke to business manager. Environment BIOHABITATS INC.: Jennifer Zielinski to water resources engineer. Health care SUMMA HEALTH SYSTEM: Dr. William...

Riverside sets sights on deals around the planet; Private equity firm notes Asia's potential.(News)
February 11, 2008... Byline: SHAWN A. TURNER The Riverside Co. plans to spend more time scouring the globe for acquisition targets in 2008. Co-CEO Stewart Kohl said his private equity firm, which is headquartered in Cleveland and New York, will put a...

Bosses mull benefits, burden of employees surfing web.(Small Business)
February 11, 2008... Byline: KATHY AMES CARR Most small business owners - often already stretched to the limit with a heavy workload - don't have the time to personally monitor employee Internet activity to make sure it's on the up-and-up. So while some...

'Perfect work marriage' helps consulting business flourish.(News)
February 11, 2008... Byline: CHUCK SODER Ailish Murphy attributes her company's growth to its employees, its core customers and her husband. The owner of MurTech Consulting LLC of Independence said the company, which places information technology employees...

What's New.(The Insider)(Arnco Corp.'s new product)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... COMPANY: Arnco Corp., Elyria PRODUCT: Fiber-Guard Plenum Arnco says the Fiber-Guard Plenum, part of its conduit product line, is flame-retardant and easy to install. It's used as a "non-metallic, flexible raceway'' for protecting...

The Week: February 4 - 10.(The Insider)
February 11, 2008... The big story: KeyCorp said it plans to move 1,000 employees in downtown Cleveland across Ontario Street from the May Co. building to the Higbee Building. The banking company and Higbee Building owner Forest City Enterprises Inc. jointly...

Letter.(Letters)
February 11, 2008... Disincentives for business abound in Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher also serves as the director of the Ohio Department of Development. He was quoted recently in The Plain Dealer saying something to the effect that he intends to prevent state...

Shell game.(Opinion)
February 11, 2008... Gov. Ted Strickland doesn't have a reputation as a deceptive individual. However, we've got to wonder whether we're seeing a variation of the old shell game with his plan to expand the Ohio Lottery to include the operation of electronic Keno...

The Big Issue.(Opinion)
February 11, 2008... Do you support Gov. Ted Strickland's plan to put video keno machines in the state's bars, restaurants and horseracing tracks? Shakia Barnes Cleveland I think it's a good idea because I'm not a gambler, but I'll soon be 21 and...

Choice Bits; Excerpts from recent Editor's Choice blog entries on CrainsCleveland.com.(Briefs)(Excerpt)
February 11, 2008... This invention sure isn't run of the mill NASA Glenn Research Center is filled with smart people, but they might have topped themselves and done the impossible: come up with a treadmill that looks fun to use. Wired blogger John Borland...

The Week in Quotes.(News)(Quotation)
February 11, 2008... "What we're going to be pledging is the quality of science and the ability to generate commercial activity. This isn't purely higher education- focused basic research.'' - Norman Chagnon, executive director, Third Frontier Commission. Page...

Tax Liens.(News)(Public notice)
February 11, 2008... The Internal Revenue Service filed tax liens against the following businesses in the Cuyahoga County Recorder's Office. The IRS files a tax lien to protect the interests of the federal government. The lien is a public notice to creditors that...

Gladiators start from the goal line; New Arena Football League team works to put Vegas in the past, create new identity in region.(News)(Cleveland Gladiators)
February 11, 2008... Byline: JOHN BOOTH With the Cleveland Gladiators' home opener three weeks off, general manager Mike Levy is relishing even the smallest victories. With the sales staff of the relocated Arena Football League team making "hundreds of calls...

Grand Openings.(Small Business)(Planet Green, Mustang Salliz and Marin K. Ritter LLC )
February 11, 2008... Planet Green 19056 Old Detroit Road Rocky River 44116 Planet Green, an organic lifestyle store, is owned by Rebecca Reynolds, who for the past six years has worked to educate people on ways to live more organically, including...

Term limits measure inhibits reform.(Opinion)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Brian Tucker Did you know that 25 current members of the Ohio Senate used to serve in the House of Representatives? Or that seven in the House are former senators? Welcome to the wacky world of term limits, which is arguably...

This is Bob.(Small Business)(Affordable Warehouse Equipment)
February 11, 2008... Byline: JOEL HAMMOND This is Bob. He'd like to sell you some directory advertising, and he'd like you to ship a bundle of your best product overseas. He might even offer to overpay you for your trouble. He's also a fake, one...

HEALTHY GROWTH; Hyland's medical records software system generates national, international interest.(Insight)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Chuck Soder The need to organize a growing number of electronic medical records drove significant growth within the health care unit of Hyland Software Inc. in 2007, and officials at the Westlake-based provider of document...

SAFETY FIRST; Thanks to last year's toy recalls and consumers' subsequent worries, there will be a different focus at the industry's New York trade show.
February 11, 2008... Byline: JOHN BOOTH Without question, there's no place for acres of eye-popping, ear-ringing flat-out fun like the toy industry's annual trade show. This year, though, local toy companies are heading to Toy Fair 2008, set for Feb. 17-20...

Metal execs charged in price scheme.(News)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Shawn A. Turner A Lake County scrap metal company and two of its top executives were indicted last week on charges related to a federal antitrust probe. Alliance National Limited Partnership, a company in Willoughby that does...

Relocation specialist files for Chapter 11.(News)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Stan Bullard Chicago-based Sirva Inc., which has a Mayfield Heights operation employing 387, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Sirva provides employee relocation services for businesses and government agencies....

Reporters' Notebook; Behind the news with Crain's writers.(The Insider)(Jim Cookinham of Northeast Ohio Software Association)
February 11, 2008... Friends cook up a proper sendoff for Cookinham At his retirement party, Jim Cookinham's friends let him know that he has an odd sense of style, sends way too many e-mails and looks kind of like Santa Claus - but they also let him know just...

Prominent homebuilder closes door to firm; Terry Bennett cites worsening market, weighs local, out-of-state opportunities.(News)
February 11, 2008... Byline: STAN BULLARD Terry Bennett, a high-profile home remodeler and custom homebuilder, is quitting his business here and perhaps leaving Northeast Ohio. Mr. Bennett said in a phone interview that he is in the process of dissolving...

Crain's seeking standouts from the health care industry.(News)
February 11, 2008... Crain's Cleveland Business will honor Northeast Ohio's Health Care Heroes in a special section and at an event scheduled for September. Honorees will be selected in the following categories: * Health care advocate: Honors an...

Ameritrust buyer seeks $15M loan from county.
February 11, 2008... Byline: STAN BULLARD, JAY MILLER Cuyahoga County commissioners are weighing a proposal by K&D Group, the prospective buyer of downtown Cleveland's Ameritrust complex, to hold a $15 million mortgage on the property for as much as two years....

Schools eye Third Frontier stash; Akron, CWRU, CSU and KSU seek pieces of $150 million Research Scholars Program pie.
February 11, 2008... Byline: SHANNON MORTLAND Four local universities are seeking $109 million from the state's Third Frontier high-tech program to help form research clusters that aim to create jobs and put a national spotlight on Northeast Ohio. The...

The Interview.(Small Business)
February 11, 2008... Byline: JENNIFER KEIRN It may be the mother who leaves work early to take her child to soccer practice. It's the new dad who wants to stay home with his wife and newborn for a few weeks. Or it can be the 50-something employee who needs a...

EAPs help companies cope with substance abuse.(Small Business)
February 11, 2008... Byline: HARRIET TRAMER Some small business owners turn to outside employee assistance programs in an effort to link workers with the support they need to remain productive. And often, those employers are seeking help in keeping their...

No new delivery date for Ohio's proposed maternity leave rules.(Small Business)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Vincent Tersigni Ohio's employers need to continue to wait and watch the ongoing progress of changes to the rules relating to pregnancy and maternity leave for employees. Those of us who monitor employment law developments have...

Forest City ups bank credit.(News)
February 11, 2008... Forest City Enterprises Inc. said it has expanded its bank credit facility by $150 million, to $750 million, by exercising the accordion feature of its existing revolving credit agreement. Forest City said the transaction enhances its...

Late News.(problems in the housing market)(state of Ohio awards development loan and a tax credit to National Bronze and Metals Inc.)(AtNetPlus Inc.'s moves its headquarters)
February 11, 2008... FED CHIEF BLAMES SLUMP ON HOUSING Problems in the housing market are "the largest factor behind the economic slowdown,'' Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland president and CEO Sandra Pianalto said during a speech last Friday, Feb. 8, to...

WHO'S A BIZ OWNER?(Small Business)
February 11, 2008... The U.S. Small Business Administration recently released findings regarding characteristics of the self-employed: * Individuals with military experience are 9.4% to 11% more likely to be self-employed than not. * A head of household...

Deck specialist expands market with franchises.(Small Business)
February 11, 2008... Deck Rescue Franchising LLC, based in Litchfield, is building up its market, selling 11 franchises since starting operations about a year ago. The company is an affiliate of Deck Rescue LLC, which was founded in 1995 and restores...

ON THE WATERFRONT.(News)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... The total number of registered watercraft in Ohio rose a little less than 1% last year to 415,562 from 412,578 in 2006. It marked the fifth time the state exceeded 415,000 registered boats; the all-time high is 418,701 in 2000. Here's a...

Go, Joe.(Opinion)(Joe Cimperman )(Brief article)
February 18, 2008... We've never made an endorsement in a congressional race before. However, we're about to make an exception this year by endorsing Joe Cimperman in his run for the 10th District congressional seat now held by Dennis Kucinich. The Cleveland...

The Big Issue.(Opinion)
February 18, 2008... Who do you think will win the Democratic primary in Ohio on March 4? Jessica Baggett Elyria Hillary. Voters will understand she's the better candidate. I think Mr. Obama will have a time, but I'm not sure that time is now. ...

FEELING THE PAIN; Housing slump trickles down to suppliers, with some trimming staffs while others go out of business.(News)(Gerent-Doane Construction Co.)(Personal account)
February 18, 2008... Byline: Stan Bullard As a partner in Gerent-Doane Construction Co. of Sheffield Village, Scott Doane takes the long view of residential building's big downturn. He reminds himself of the Bible verse: "Who by worrying can add a minute...

Going Places.(People)
February 18, 2008... Job Changes education CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE: Dr. Sorin T. Teich to director of clinical operations. ENGINEERING KARPINSKI ENGINEERING: Brett Schlosser to mechanical engineer; Joel...

Fogg seeks grant to recast Euclid site as industrial park.(News)
February 18, 2008... Byline: STAN BULLARD, JAY MILLER Industrial developer Ray Fogg Building Methods Inc. is pursuing a $5 million state grant that it would use to help transform 83 acres of vacant land in Euclid into an industrial park. The land formerly...

Israeli tech firm taps Akron for U.S. outpost; City expects more results from recruitment.(News)
February 18, 2008... Byline: CHUCK SODER An Israeli technology company has committed to opening its U.S. headquarters in Akron, which would make it the first in what the city hopes will be a series of companies moving to Akron from the Middle Eastern nation....

Urban designer builds on community potential.(Real Estate)
February 18, 2008... Byline: CHRISTINE GORDILLO Christopher Diehl definitely is a half-full kind of guy. Where others see hopelessness in the stretches of boarded-up homes and abandoned buildings strewn throughout the heart of Cleveland, Mr. Diehl sees...

Green building gaining ground in local commercial sector.(Real Estate)
February 18, 2008... Byline: JENNIFER KEIRN Bill Doty took some serious flak from his peers when he hopped on the green-building bandwagon more than 10 years ago. This 30-plus-year architect and co-founder of Doty & Miller Architects said he "got...

Have your voice heard on retirement.(News)
February 18, 2008... Are you curious about how your financial plans for retirement compare to those of other Crain's readers? If so, we'd like to invite you to participate in a retirement planning survey that our sister publication, Investment News, is...

Foreclosure class action could spark copycats.
February 18, 2008... Byline: JAY MILLER A lawsuit presented as a class action against Deutsche Bank and three law firms may inspire imitators should hordes of Ohio homeowners who have had their properties foreclosed upon look to strike back against parties...

Opinions mixed on medical mart relevance; Invacare among health product makers unsure if they'd lease showroom space.(Insight)
February 18, 2008... Byline: JAY MILLER A proposed medical merchandise mart for Cleveland is receiving a mixed reception among local health care industry professionals whose companies one day might be asked to show their wares there. Opinions ranged from...

SPACE SQUEEZE; Heated Clinton-Obama contest puts pressure on broadcasters to satisfy advertisers' air-time demands.
February 18, 2008... Byline: JOHN BOOTH Some trains you see coming. Some sneak up on you faster than you can say, "Super Tuesday.'' With its relatively late primary election date, Ohio never has been a late-winter battleground for presidential hopefuls...

With stock prices falling, firms look to alter compensation plans.(News)
February 18, 2008... Byline: SHAWN A. TURNER Public companies that have seen their stock prices pounded in recent months likely will begin rethinking the compensation packages offered to top officials, according to executive compensation experts. As stock...

Late News.(Cuyahoga County commissioners approves for expanding Cuyahoga County Airport)(Community Health Partners )(HRPT Properties Trust of Boston )
February 18, 2008... NORTH POINT COMPLEX SOLD IN $114M DEAL HRPT Properties Trust of Boston has paid $114 million for the North Point Tower complex in downtown Cleveland. The sale price surpasses the $100 million market value the county assigns the complex for...

Brooklyn office site a bargain for active purchaser.(News)
February 18, 2008... Byline: STAN BULLARD Ridgepark Medical Center, a half-empty, 70,000-square-foot office building in Brooklyn, is the latest acquisition by real estate investor and Mazel Stores Inc. chairman Reuven Dessler. Mr. Dessler formed 7575...

Solar panels on IMG Center next on firm's green agenda.(Real Estate)
February 18, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Keirn Talking to colleagues in other major U.S. cities, Jim Breen gets a glimpse of the greening that's coming to Cleveland's commercial real estate market. "People (in other cities) tell me that if you're not a...

MILESTONE.(The Insider)(Sedlak)(Company overview)(Brief article)
February 18, 2008... COMPANY: Sedlak, Highland Hills THE OCCASION: The firm's 50th anniversary Since its founding in 1958 by Joseph A. Sedlak, the firm has focused on improving the distribution operations of its clients by providing independent consulting,...

The Week: February 11 - 17.(The Insider)(Inchem Holdings International Ltd.)
February 18, 2008... The big story: Tucker Ellis & West LLP is the first tenant to announce that it plans to hang its shingle in the Flats East Bank Neighborhood, a planned $500 million makeover of Old River Road north of Main Avenue by Wolstein Group of Beachwood...

Schools hold key to Cleveland's future.(Viewpoint essay)
February 18, 2008... Byline: Brian Tucker The Cleveland Metropolitan School District, which could be the single most critical piece in this city's future, has taken a great deal of heat since the nationally publicized shooting at Success Tech Academy and the...

Reporters' Notebook; Behind the news with Crain's writers.(The Insider)(N2Net's system )
February 18, 2008... Call 216-619-2000, then press 7 Here's an automated phone menu that isn't absolutely boring. Internet service provider N2Net's system gives the caller a fairly basic lineup of options until number seven rolls around. We won't spoil...

The Week in Quotes.(News)(Quotation)
February 18, 2008... "I think all of us in this market do everything we can to make sure our local advertisers' messages still get out and we do what we're legally obligated to.'' - Lynda King, general sales manager, WOIO-TV, Channel 19 and WUAB-TV, Channel...

OUTSIDE THE BOX; Smaller shopping plazas borrow design concepts from lifestyle centers.(Real Estate)
February 18, 2008... Byline: STAN BULLARD A spate of new, small Northeast Ohio shopping centers is borrowing design concepts from the big boys at Westlake's Crocker Park and Lyndhurst's Legacy Village. Employing cues from neo-traditional design and...

Silicon Valley survives tech's ups, downs.(Opinion)
February 18, 2008... Byline: HERB KLEIMAN Silicon Valley celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Located just south of San Francisco, the region comprises the most innovative, the most entrepreneurial, and the most wealthy professionals the world has ever...

Ouch.(Opinion)
February 18, 2008... General Motors Corp. keeps taking the painful steps needed to bring its costs into line, as attested to by its announcement last week that it was offering employee buyouts to all 74,000 of its U.S. hourly workers who are represented by the...