Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) articles from December 2000

Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) archives from December 2000

OPINION: Newspaper Advertising Trends Indicate Individuality of Utah Economy.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Scott Trundle Dec. 31--You might say, what's a newspaper publisher's economic forecast doing among such business heavyweights as today's other guest columnists? Well, the Standard-Examiner is a local marketplace, a barometer...

OPINION: Ogden, Utah, Bank Aims to Help Customer in 2001.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Jim Anderson Dec. 31--Our goal in 2001 is to help our customers be profitable and financially secure by offering premier financial services products in banking, investments and home lending. Bank of Utah's primary inward focus is...

OPINION: Ogden, Utah-Area Bank to Invest in Technical Upgrades.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Edward G. Kleyn Dec. 31--SOME HAVE OBSERVED THAT our markets are having a Dot-com hangover -- the Internet party is over but the music is still playing. At First Security / Wells, the celebration is just beginning. We will be...

OPINION: Chamber of Commerce Identifies Important Issues in Ogden, Utah, Area.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Chris L. Dallin Dec. 31--Every year individuals in the community ask how the economy is going to affect them: "What will happen to me this year?" they ask. Certainly there are external factors that we cannot control. However,...

OPINION: Chief of Ogden, Utah, Construction Firm Predicts Gains in 2001.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Rob Moore Dec. 31--BIG-D IS VERY bullish about our market as we forecast into 2001 and 2002. Our company will complete more than $275 million in construction projects in 2000 with a substantial projected increase in 2001 and...

OPINION: Ogden, Utah-Area Community Development Efforts to Continue in 2001.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Susan Thackeray Dec. 31--As Box Elder County looks forward to 2001, we are extremely optimistic. Almost every building on Brigham City's and Tremonton's Main Streets are filled with business, some retail, some service-oriented....

OPINION: Ogden, Utah-Area Air Force Base Expects Continued Success.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Tom Miner Dec. 31--Hill Air Force Base is the largest employer in Northern Utah with an annual payroll in excess of $670 million and operating budget of more than $6 billion. Its total impact on the Utah economy is nearly $2...

OPINION: Ogden, Utah-Based Tech Firm Has Bright Future.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Alan Hall Dec. 31--FOR THE LAST FIVE years the stock market has boomed. According to Money Magazine, the Nasdaq index has seen annual gains of 20 percent to 86 percent and the Dow Jones Industrials have seen gains of more than 24...

Salt Lake City-Based Firm to Build Pipeline in Utah.
December 30, 2000... Dec. 30--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--In an effort to meet growing demand for natural gas, Questar Pipeline plans to construct an in-state natural gas pipeline from Price to Elberta. The company, a subsidiary of Questar Corp., recently received...

Salt Lake City-Based Bank Acquires Nine Arizona Bank Branches.
December 29, 2000... Dec. 29--SALT LAKE CITY--Zions Bancorporation announced Tuesday the latest in a string of recent acquisitions. Zions officials said the company reached an agreement with Pacific Century Financial Corp. to purchase nine Arizona bank...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Buzz Column.
December 29, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 29--BUSINESS NEWS COVERAGE is important. What happens in the business world--who is buying and who is selling; which company is expanding and which is downsizing; who was fired and who was hired; interest rate...

Rail Firm's Job Cuts Include Positions in Utah.
December 29, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 29--Union Pacific Railroad plans to cut 2,000 jobs from its nationwide work force, including positions in Utah. The nation's largest rail-freight carrier announced the cuts Thursday, citing accelerated...

Attorneys Fight Motion to Dismiss Wrongful Termination Suit Against AOL.
December 28, 2000... Byline: Cheryl Buchta Dec. 28--OGDEN, Utah--Attorneys for three men fired by America Online for having guns in their vehicles parked at work are challenging AOL's contention that the parking lot belongs to the company. The three,...

Utah Charter Service to Launch Flights to Cancun, Mexico.
December 27, 2000... Dec. 27--SALT LAKE CITY--The newest vacation charter service in Utah will embark on its inaugural flight Dec. 28, bound for Cancun, Mexico. Xplore Vacations has been selling flights from Salt Lake City to Mexico starting at $299...

Ogden, Utah, Eatery Remains a Staple in the Community.
December 27, 2000... Byline: Taylor Fielding Dec. 27--OGDEN, Utah--When Arlo Guthrie strummed the song about "Alice's Restaurant" in 1965, he could have meant a small diner in downtown Ogden called the Troc. Joseph Thompson was one of many customers who...

Utah Utilities Suggest Ways to Reduce High Monthly Bills.
December 27, 2000... Byline: Beth Dove Dec. 27--OGDEN, Utah--Consumers can fight back against higher utility bills by taking a few simple steps at home, say utility companies. "Conservation, particularly during peak hours, will make an immediate impact...

For Some Workers in Ogden, Utah, Christmas Is Just another Work Day.
December 27, 2000... Byline: Tanna Barry Dec. 27--OGDEN, Utah--While most families were home Sunday celebrating Christmas Eve and preparing for today's holiday, others were conducting business as usual. Audrey Bell, for example. "Christmas is a...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Calendar Column.
December 25, 2000... Dec. 25--Business Planner welcomes submissions of business seminars, conferences, training events and gatherings. Fax information to Business Planner at (801) 625-4299. Jan 4 -- Ogden -- Edward Jones sattelite broadcast "Outlook 2001: A...

Utah-Based Online Medical Records Retrieval Firm Moves Headquarters.
December 25, 2000... Dec. 25--SOUTH JORDAN, Utah--MediConnect.net, Inc., a Web-based medical records retrieval company, recently moved its corporate headquarters to the new Jordan Gateway Plaza. The company has restructured management and more than doubled its...

Utah-Based Zions Bancorp Ranks High among Small-Business Lenders.
December 24, 2000... Dec. 24--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Zions Bancorporation ranked as the nation's seventh largest provider of Small Business Administration loans for fiscal 2000, according to the SBA. Zions approved 704 small business loans totalling $108.3...

Pulitzer Newspaper Chain Acquires Utah Publishing Facilities.
December 24, 2000... Dec. 24--OREM, Utah--Pulitzer Newspapers Inc., owner of The Daily Herald in Provo, is acquiring Utah Valley Publishing and Amor Printing Centre in Utah County. Utah Valley Publishing produces the Orem-Geneva Times and the Lindon Times,...

Ogden, Utah-Area Malls Capitalize on Appearances by Santa Claus.
December 24, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 24--Operating on the red coat tails of Santa Claus is big business. Department stores, toy stores, malls, photographers, Web sites, Santa look-a-likes and hordes of other businesses all enjoy riding along in...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business People Column.
December 23, 2000... Dec. 23--BusinessPeople reports news and information about Top of Utah businesspeople. To have items considered for this column, information should be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Send it to BusinessPeople, Business Editor,...

Pilot Strike Causes Delays for Delta Air Lines in Salt Lake City.
December 23, 2000... Byline: Kari Lynn Harland Dec. 23--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Travelers at Salt Lake International Airport this weekend may be wishing they had their own sleigh and eight flying reindeer. The phrase, "The plane has been delayed," is...

Utah-Based Oil Exploration Firm to Boost 2001 Capital Expenses.
December 23, 2000... Dec. 23--Equity Oil Co., an oil and gas exploration company headquartered in Salt Lake City, plans to spend $9 million on capital expenses for 2001. The figure represents a 42 percent increase from Equity's $6.3 million 2000 capital budget....

Utah Transit Tax to Take Effect in April.
December 23, 2000... Dec. 23--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--A quarter-cent transit tax approved by voters in November will not take effect until April, according to the State Tax Commission. In accordance with state law, taxing entities must notify the Tax...

J.C. Penney Store in Downtown Ogden, Utah, to Close This Weekend.
December 22, 2000... Byline: Cheryl Buchta Dec. 22--OGDEN, Utah--When the downtown J.C. Penney store closes its doors for the final time Sunday, it will mark the end of an era for many area shoppers. "It's been here forever," said Delores McLendon. "I'm...

Closure of J.C. Penney Store Raises Concerns about Ogden, Utah, Mall's Future.
December 22, 2000... Byline: Cheryl Buchta Dec. 22--OGDEN, Utah--The Sunday departure of J.C. Penney from the Ogden City Mall has some wondering if the present owners will act in time to save the half-empty mall. "We have high hopes but it's not looking...

Ogden, Utah, Optometrist to Participate in Free Program for the Working Poor.
December 22, 2000... Dec. 22--OGDEN, Utah--Dr. Michael M. Judkins, a local optometrist, will again be participating as one of 7,000 American Optometric Association members in Vision USA, a program to provide free eye exams to low-income qualifiers in the Ogden...

U.S. Bank to Put ATMs in Maverik Grocery Stores in Idaho, Nevada, Utah.
December 21, 2000... Dec. 21--U.S. Bank and Maverik Country Stores announced a deal to place 116 ATM's in Maverik stores throughout Utah, Nevada and Idaho. After the large-scale installation, there will be 109 locations in Utah -- including at 77 Maverik...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Buzz Column.
December 21, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 21--Utahns for the most part did well during the last 10 years. From 1990 to 1999, total incomes rose an average of 8.4 percent annually, according to the State Tax Commission. Capital gains saw the...

Utah Governor Expects Power Crisis to Affect Economy of Western U.S.
December 21, 2000... Byline: Charles F. Trentelman Dec. 21--SALT LAKE CITY--Gov. Mike Leavitt says the current power crisis is going to last for years and threatens the economy of the entire western United States. Utahns face "voluntary" conservation...

Utah Travel Council Hires New York-Based Public Relations Firm.
December 21, 2000... Dec. 21--The Utah Travel Council, in an effort to increase Utah visibility as a tourist attraction recently hired New York City-based Hill and Knowlton as its global public relations firm. The council wants Utah to be advertised as a...

Head of Travel Hospitality Firm Remembers Its Start in Brigham City, Utah.
December 21, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 21--BRIGHAM CITY, Utah--While looking forward to moving company headquarters to Ogden, the president of Flying J Inc. always will remember the travel hospitality and petroleum company had its roots in Brigham...

Steel Maker Settles Environment Suit in District Court in South Carolina.
December 20, 2000... Dec. 20--In the largest ever environmental settlement involving a steel manufacturer, Nucor Corp. agreed Tuesday to spend nearly $100 million to resolve a federal environmental suit claiming the company violated U.S. pollution standards at...

Natural Gas Provider Requests Rate Hike in Utah.
December 20, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 20--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Utahns will likely pay 29 percent more for natural gas in 2001, under a rate-hike request filed Tuesday by Questar Gas. The natural gas provider is petitioning the Utah Public...

Petroleum Exploration Firm Moves Base to Ogden, Utah.
December 20, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 20--OGDEN, Utah--Flying J Inc. is moving its corporate headquarters from Brigham City to Ogden, the company announced Tuesday. The move bolsters efforts by local officials to remake the city's image as a...

Television Channel Becomes Available in Utah.
December 20, 2000... Dec. 20--PROVO, Utah--BYU Television has begun broadcasting its signal on the DirecTV Inc. system. It can be seen on channel 374. The television channel offers programming from the three campuses of BYU, located in Utah, Idaho and...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Briefs Column.
December 18, 2000... Dec. 18--ALBERTSON'S SEEKS TO RETIRE STOCK: Albertson's Inc., recently increased the limit of an ongoing $500 million stock repurchase program to $1.5 billion. The move is expected to increase sales, stock value and return while reducing...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Calendar Column.
December 18, 2000... Dec. 18--Business Planner welcomes submissions of business seminars, conferences, training events and gatherings. Fax information to Business Planner at 625-4299. DEC 18 OGDEN, Utah--USDAForest Job Fair for those interested in...

Cost of Living Falls Slightly in Ogden, Utah-Area.
December 18, 2000... Dec. 18--The cost of living along the Wasatch Front fell during November for the first time since May, according to a report from First Security Bank. The .4 percent drop contrasted with a .1 percent rise in the cost of living...

Utah Bank Announces Merger with California Institution.
December 17, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 17--SALT LAKE CITY--Zions Bancorporation recently announced a merger with Eldorado Bancshares Inc. The agreement is valued at approximately $190 million. Under the agreement, Eldorado subsidiaries Eldorado...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business People Column.
December 17, 2000... Dec. 17--SHELLEY B. CLARKE was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Goldenwest Credit Union following the retirement of Monte Call. She began in the post Dec. 1. Clarke has worked at Goldenwest since 1974 and was appointed...

Utah Car Dealers Face a Second Year of Lower Sales.
December 17, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 17--Kicking the tires is a car-shopping tradition, but dealers in the Top of Utah and around the state have been getting kicked in the shins the last two years by slow sales. Statewide, used car sales by...

Salt Lake City Oil Company Reports Success at Wyoming Drilling Facility.
December 17, 2000... Dec. 17--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Questar Corp. recently reported continued drilling success at its Pinedale Anticline drilling project in western Wyoming. Company officials said initial wells drilled are showing signs of enhanced...

Qwest Seeks to Offer High-Speed Internet Access through AT&T Cable Network.
December 17, 2000... Dec. 17--DENVER, Colo.--Qwest Communications International Inc. is seeking access to AT&T's cable network in Colorado and Washington to provide high-speed Internet access and other telephone and modem services in areas where Qwest facilities...

Utah Better Business Bureau Identifies Two Gift Scams.
December 17, 2000... Dec. 17--The Better Business Bureau of Utah recently issued an alert on two gift scams that are targeting holiday shoppers this year. One deals with online purchasing of the hard-to-find Sony Playstation 2 and related products. Two...

Albertson's Announces Increased Earnings for Third Quarter.
December 15, 2000... Dec. 15--BOISE, Idaho--Albertson's, Inc. recently announced earnings are up for the third quarter 2000. Net earnings for the quarter totaled $187 million, or 2.1 percent of $9 billion total sales. Earnings per share without merger-related...

Utah Officials Seek Federal Relief for Drought, Wildfire Damage.
December 15, 2000... Dec. 15--SALT LAKE CITY--State officials are seeking federal government relief for drought and wildfire damage in Utah this year. Governor Mike Leavitt and Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Cary Peterson recently appealed to U.S....

Utah Utilities Seek State Approval for Rate Hikes.
December 15, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 15--Utah's main natural gas and electricity providers -- Questar Gas and Utah Power -- plan to seek state approval for rate hikes in the next two weeks. Spokespersons at both companies confirmed Thursday they...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Buzz Column.
December 14, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 14--It's just a business deal. MediaNews Group wants to buy the Salt Lake Tribune. The company offered $200 million for the newspaper. AT&T, which owns the Tribune, agreed to sell. MediaNews Group...

Idaho-Based Supermarket Chain CEO Announces Plans for Retirement.
December 13, 2000... Dec. 13--BOISE, Idaho--Gary G. Michael, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Albertson's Inc. recently said he will retire at the next annual meeting, to be held in June of 2001. Michael has been with Albertson's for 35...

Media Group Hopes Federal Judge Will Allow Purchase of Utah Newspaper.
December 13, 2000... Dec. 13--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Dean Singleton hopes federal Judge Tena Campbell throws out an effort by managers of the Salt Lake Tribune to stop Singleton's MediaNews Group from buying Utah's largest newspaper. Singleton's newspaper...

Northern Utah General Motors Dealers Adjust to Phase-Out of Oldsmobile.
December 13, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 13--As the advertising jingle said, "It's not your father's Oldsmobile." Now it likely won't be your kid's Oldsmobile either. Northern Utah dealers were told of General Motors Corp.'s decision to scrap it's...

Developer Makes Plans for Future Ogden, Utah, Business Park.
December 12, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 12--OGDEN, Utah--As Boyer Company partner Carl Cook looks toward 2001 and beyond, he sees a drastically different landscape in Ogden's former Defense Depot. Boyer has a 40-year lease to develop the 1,128-acre...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Calendar Column.
December 11, 2000... Dec. 11--DEC 12: SALT LAKE CITY--Seminar on "13 Things Every Business Web Site Must Have" at Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce office, 175 E. 400 South, Suite 600, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Call (801)...

Eden, Utah, Home Furnishing Shop Draws on Colonial Mormon Past.
December 11, 2000... Byline: Cathy McKitrick Dec. 11--EDEN, Utah--It all started in 1880s Mexico, in a place called the Colonies. Mormon pioneers were sent there by Brigham Young to establish settlements as a possible haven should persecution set in. A...

Travel Magazine Names Midway, Utah Ski Resort as One of the Best.
December 11, 2000... Dec. 11--MIDWAY, Utah--Conde Nast Traveler magazine has rated the Homestead Resort as one of the best overall ski destinations for the fourth time in the Top 50 Ski Resorts in North America for 2000. The ranking is based on the opinions...

Cincinnati Firm Contracts with Communications Company for Billing Services.
December 10, 2000... Dec. 10--CINCINNATI--Convergys Corp. recently renewed a contract with Alltel communications company to provide billing services. The contract was extended through 2003 for an undisclosed amount. Convergys officials said the agreement...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business People Column.
December 10, 2000... Dec. 10--SHAWN SMITH, GARY SUME, RYAN ANDERSON, AND NICOLE RASMUSSEN have all accepted new positions with Salt Lake City's FJCandN. Smith and Sume are associate creative directors. Both were senior copywriters and will focus on creative...

Engineering Testing Firm Acquires Salt Lake City Consultancy.
December 10, 2000... Dec. 10--SALT LAKE CITY--Delta Geotechnical Consultants was acquired last month by PSI, an independent engineering testing firm based near Chicago. PSI's Salt Lake City office will be consolidated into Delta's offices at 2779 S. 600...

Owner Upgrades Marriott-Slaterville, Utah, Golf Course.
December 10, 2000... Dec. 10--MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE, Utah--Rather than sit through what is traditionally his slowest time of the year, Mulligan's Golf and Games owner Jimmy Blair has undertaken a $300,000 upgrade to his Marriott-Slaterville golf center at 1690 W....

Layton, Utah, Financial Group Increases Profit Projections.
December 10, 2000... Dec. 10--Intermountain Financial Group, represented by MassMutual Financial Group in Layton, recently announced increased profit projections for 2001. Dividends for next year will result in a payout of $1.12 billion dollars, the largest...

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Gets New Member on Its Board.
December 8, 2000... Dec. 8--SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Spencer Eccles, chairman of the Intermountain Region for Wells Fargo & Co., recently was elected to a two-year term on the board of directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce. Eccles began his career...

Ogden, Utah, Mayor to Ask Legislature to Fund High-Tech Education Center.
December 8, 2000... Byline: Cheryl Buchta Dec. 8--OGDEN, Utah--In a bid to attract Silicon Valley jobs to Ogden, Mayor Matthew Godfrey will ask the Legislature to fund a $3.5-million high-tech education and research center downtown. "I noticed...

U.S. Small Business Group Amends Size Standards for Health Care Providers.
December 8, 2000... Dec. 8--WASHINGTON--The U.S. Small Business Administration recently amended size standards for health care providers, potentially adding about 5,000 companies to the list that are eligible for government assistance. The previous revenue...

Experts Say Wells Fargo, Utah Bank Merger Will Eventually Benefit Consumers.
December 8, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 8--Stock value dropped, jobs were cut and top managers moved to other businesses preceding the merger of First Security Corp. with Wells Fargo & Co., but financial experts say when all is said and done, the...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Buzz Column.
December 7, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 7--Qwest Communications International Inc. is doing quite well. Or is it? The giant telecommunications company which acquired US West in June is meeting its financial and growth projections. The company...

Beware of Car Dealers Disguised as Private Owners, Investigator Says.
December 7, 2000... Byline: Kari Lynn Harland Dec. 27 --OGDEN, Utah--When a car dealer pretends to be a private owner selling his car out of his driveway, car buyers get taken for a ride, says an investigator. For example: Kelly Moore saw a 1997 Honda...

Construction in Salt Lake City-Area Slows.
December 7, 2000... Dec. 7--Commercial construction in Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties dropped 57 percent to $34.8 million for October. In Oct. 1999, $81 million in contracts were signed, according to the Dodge Report. For the year, commercial...

Engineering Consulting Firm Buys Building in Salt Lake City.
December 7, 2000... Dec. 7--SALT LAKE CITY--BNA Consulting Engineers II purchased the former Circa Building located at 635 S. State Street for an undisclosed amount. The firm is scheduled to move operations to the building in early 2001. BNA currently...

Salt Lake City Internet Company Sued for Use of Olympic Logo.
December 7, 2000... Byline: Bob Ward Dec. 7--SALT LAKE CITY--An Internet business purporting to sell 2002 Olympic lodging and tickets has landed in U.S. District Court for allegedly using Olympic logos and images without permission. The Salt Lake...

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Briefs Column.
December 6, 2000... Dec. 6--CINCINNATI--Convergys Corp. has elected Joseph E. Gibbs to its Board of Directors for a term to continue through 2003. Gibbs is cofounder, vice chairman, president and chief executive officer of TGC, Inc. (The Golf Channel). He...

Ogden, Utah-Area Mall Shoppers Let Down by Olympic Plans.
December 6, 2000... Byline: Gary Hinds Dec. 6--Many Layton Hills Mall shoppers had their Olympic spirits dampened recently when A Touch of Utah was shutdown, but the store that now occupies the same space is doing all it can to re-light their enthusiasm....

Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Business Calendar Column.
December 5, 2000... Dec. 5--DEC 5 SALT LAKE CITY--Technical Writing Workshop on How to Write User Manuals at the Marriott Salt Lake Center, 8:30 a.m. -- 4 p.m. Cost is $179 per person. Call 1-800-255-4141 to register. DEC 7 OGDEN, Utah--Edward...

Manpower Inc. Predicts Slower Job Growth in Ogden, Utah.
December 3, 2000... Dec. 3--OGDEN, Utah--Job growth is projected to slow in Ogden during the first quarter of next year, according to Manpower Inc. A survey conducted by the temporary staffing company shows 17 percent of employers plan to increase their work...

Utah Laptop Retailer Focuses on Serving God, Mankind.
December 3, 2000... Byline: Cathy McKitrick Dec. 3--RIVERDALE, Utah--Giving love to customers is what it's all about. So says Dan Young, best-known for outrageous TV and radio ads as "Dan the Laptop Man." His focus is not to annoy but to serve God and...

Ogden, Utah, Mall Welcomes Three New Stores.
December 1, 2000... Dec. 1--OGDEN, Utah--Three new stores recently opened at Newgate Mall and another 32 retail outlets are operating there for the holiday season. Blindside, Franklin-Covey and Nach-O Fast leased permanent space at the mall, bringing...

Ogden, Utah, Movie Theater Chain Acquires New Branch.
December 1, 2000... Byline: David Troester Dec. 1--OGDEN, Utah--Reel Theatres at 151 E. 12th Street was acquired by owners of North Pointe Theatres in North Ogden. The deal was finalized Thursday. Officials negotiated the purchase during the last 12...