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French operators last Friday requested licences to export 10500 tonnes of free market maize 11950 tonnes of free market barley and 13000 of soft wheat flour to non-EC countries at prefixed daily (droit commun) rebates French trade sources said. The latest requests for the maize were for export to Switzerland Austria and Lichtenstein at a maximum daily rebate prefixed last Friday at 141 Ecus a tonne against a previous 20 Ecu daily rebate. The special daily rebate for maize was set in the context of a Commission commitment to grant this season rebates for the export of 500000 tonnes of French maize to non-EC countries in compensation for concessions to the U.S. in the recent dispute over grain sales to Spain. If the latest French requests are accepted as expected this will bring the total of French maize exported in this context to 25500 tonnes. The Commission last Thursday granted weekly rebates for the sale of 15000 tonnes of free market maize to non-EC countries. Requests for barley were for export to Switzerland Austria and Lichtenstein Ceuta and Melilla at an unchanged pre-fixed restitution of 125 Ecus a tonne while requests for soft wheat flour were for export to various non-EC countries at an unchanged 178 Ecus a tonne. Reuter
TRADERS DETAIL FRENCH CEREAL EXPORT REQUESTS
A study group said the United States should increase its strategic petroleum reserve to one mln barrels as one way to deal with the present and future impact of low oil prices on the domestic oil industry. U.S. policy now is to raise the strategic reserve to 750 mln barrels from its present 500 mln to help protect the economy from an overseas embargo or a sharp price rise. The Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies a private group also called for new research for oil exploration and development techniques. It predicted prices would remain at about 15-18 dlrs a barrel for several years and then rise to the mid 20s with imports at about 30 pct of U.S. consumption. The study cited two basic policy paths for the nation: to protect the U.S. industry through an import fee or other such device or to accept the full economic benefits of cheap oil. But the group did not strongly back either option saying there were benefits and drawbacks to both. It said instead that such moves as increasing oil reserves and more exploration and development research would help to guard against or mitigate the risks of increased imports. Reuter
STUDY GROUP URGES INCREASED U.S. OIL RESERVES
NCR Corps Personal Computer division said it signed an agreement to distrubute its personal computer products to 544 <Computerland Corp> stores in the U.S. The company said the agreement covers its entire PC line which will be sold by Computerland franchises Computerland Stores Inc and for major corporate bids through the Computerland National Accounts Program. Computerland said it is planning a direct mail campaign and other publicity on its private satellite network to promote the NCR line. The primary products to be sold by Computerland stores include the PC8 AT-compatible unit the PC6 dual-speed model and the 2114/PC Retail Management System according to NCR. Reuter
NCR CORP <NCR> UNIT SIGNS DISTRIBUTION PACT
Union Carbide Corp is looking to acquisitions and joint ventures to aid its chemicals and plastics growth according the H.W. Lichtenberger president of Chemicals and Plastics. Describing this as a major departure in the companys approach to commercial development he told the annual new business forum of the Commercial Development Association We are looking to acquisitions and joint ventures when they look like the fastest and most promising routes to the growth markets weve identified. Not very long ago Union Carbide had the attitude that if we couldnt do it ourselves it wasnt worth doing. Or if it was worth doing we had to go it alone Lichtenberger explained. He said there are times when exploiting a profitable market is done best with a partner. Nor do we see any need to plow resources into a technology we may not have if we can link up profitably with someone who is already there. He said Carbide has extended its catalyst business that way and is now extending its specialty chemicals business in the same way. Reuter
CARBIDE <UK> LOOKS TO ACQUISITIONS FOR GROWTH
Bank of America NT and SAs &lt;BAC.N> West German branch said it is negotiating the sale of Bankhaus Centrale Credit AG a small local West German bank it acquired in 1965 and of its West German Visa credit card operation. Michael Seibel Bank of America vice-president and regional manager said the negotiations were proceeding well. He declined to give further details. Bank of Americas West German branch lost some 32 mln marks in 1985. The result includes profit and loss transfers from Bankhaus Centrale Credit and the Visa organisation. The sale of the units is part of the banks worldwide restructuring plan. REUTER
CORRECTED - BANKAMERICA NEGOTIATING SALE OF UNITS
Semi div 13 cts vs 18 cts prior Pay March 13 Record March Two Reuter
<FRANKLIN GOLD FUND> CUTS DIVIDEND
Columbia Gas System Inc said it has formed Columbia Erie Pipeline Corp as a subsidiary to participate with Coastal Corps &lt;CGP> ANR Pipeline Co in construction and operation of the Erie Pipeline System. As previously announced Columbia Gas and ANR Pipeline signed a letter of intent to form a partnership to construct and operate the Erie system which will run from ANRs facilities in Defiance County Ohio to Clinton County Pa. Columbia said specific terms of participation are to be spelled out in a partnership agreement to be negotiated within the next 60 days. Reuter
COLUMBIA GAS <CG> FORMS ERIE PIPELINE SUBIDIARY
Mthly div 4.5 cts vs 4.5 cts prior Pay March 13 Record March Two Reuter
<FRANKLIN CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND>PAYOUT
Mthly div 3.6 cts vs 3.6 cts prior Pay March 13 Record March Two Reuter
<FRANKLIN AGE HIGH INCOME FUND> SETS PAYOUT
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co a unit of R.J.R. Nabisco Inc &lt;RJR> said it has formed an executive management committee to oversee the companys worldwide tobacco operations. Reynolds Tobacco said the committees members will be senior managers of Reynolds Tobacco Co R.J. Reynolds Tobacco USA and R.J. Reynolds International Inc. R.J.R. Nabisco is reportedly attempting to form a master limited partnership out of its tobacco unit part of which will be sold to the public. Reuter
R.J.R. NABISCO UNIT FORMS OVERSEEING COMMITTEE
PETRO-CANADA CUT CRUDE PRICES BY 1.43 CANADIAN DLRS/BBL EFFECTIVE MARCH ONE
Mthly div 7.7 cts vs 7.7 cts prior Pay March 13 Record March Two Reuter
<FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX-FREE INCOME FUND> PAYOUT
Mthly div 7.3 cts vs 7.3 cts prior Pay March 13 Record March Two Reuter
<FRANKLIN NEW YORK TAX-FREE INCOME FUND> PAYOUT
Mthly div six cts vs six cts prior Pay March 13 Record March Two Reuter
<FRANKLIN U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND>PAYOUT
General Motors Corps GMAC Financial Services said it plans to offer 25 billion dlrs in pre-approved credit to more than two mln preferred customers in a nationwide direct mail campaign. The GM unit said the program is the largest automotive credit offer of its kind in history. GMAC Financial Services said the mailing will be completed by early March. Selected current GMAC customers will receive offers of pre-approved credit equal to the cash selling price of the vehicles they are currently financing rounded up to the next 1000 dlrs. Within this group Buick owners will also receive a special discount of 300 dlrs that would be provided by GMs Buick motor division if they accept GMACs offer to finance or lease a new Buick. Reuter
GM <GM> UNIT TO OFFER PRE-APPROVED CREDIT
The Canadian government is expected to announce later this week its final ruling whether U.S. corn exports to Canada have injured Ontario corn growers U.S. government and farm group representatives said. The deadline for a final determination is March 7. U.S. officials said they are encouraged by the outcome in a similar case covering European pasta imports. In that case Canada decided pasta imports which take about ten pct of the Canadian market did not injure domestic producers. U.S. corn exports represent only about five pct of the Canadian market. Canada slapped a 1.05 dlrs per bushel duty on U.S. corn imports in November 1986 but reduced the duty to 85 cts last month because the Canadian government said U.S. subsidies to corn producers were less than Canada earlier estimated. Reuter
CANADA RULING ON U.S. CORN INJURY DUE THIS WEEK
Qtly div six cts vs six cts prior Pay April 28 Record March 31 Reuter
FIRST MISSISSIPPI CORP <FRM> SETS PAYOUT
Dutch port and transport union FNV agreed to an employers request to reconvene abandoned peace talks tonight to try to end strikes that have disrupted Rotterdams general cargo sector for the past six weeks a union spokesman said. Talks broke down Thursday when the union walked out after employers tabled their final offer to end the strikes which started January 19 in protest at planned redundancies of 800 from the sectors 4000 workforce starting with 350 this year. The employers invitation to restart the talks comes on the day a deadline set by Minister of Social Affairs Louw de Graaf for a resolution of the dispute expires. De Graaf said if the dispute had not ended by today he would withdraw the 10 mln guilder annual labour subsidy to the sector. No comment was immediately available from the employers organization. Reuter
ROTTERDAM PORT UNION AND EMPLOYERS TO MEET
FED SETS 1.5 BILLION DLR CUSTOMER REPURCHASE, FED SAYS
The New York Stock Exchange said Airgas Inc declined to comment on its stock activity after a request for an explanation by the exchange. The companys stock was up 1-1/8 points to 11 dlrs. Reuter
AIRGAS <AGA> DECLINES TO COMMENT ON STOCK MOVES
Qtly div 35 cts vs 35 cts prior Pay April One Record March 14 Reuter
JIM WALTER CORP <JWC> SETS PAYOUT
The Federal Reserve entered the U.S. Government securities market to arrange 1.5 billion dlrs of customer repurchase agreements a Fed spokesman said. Dealers said Federal funds were trading at 6-3/16 pct when the Fed began its temporary and indirect supply of reserves to the banking system. Reuter
FED ADDS RESERVES VIA CUSTOMER REPURCHASES
Sony (U.K.) Ltd said it would be doubling capacity at its Bridgend Wales television and components factory over the next three years in a 30 mln stg expansion. The expansion backed by Welsh office grants would make Bridgend Sonys biggest tv manufacturing plant in Europe with output of about 500000 tv sets per year a spokesman said. The move will add 300 jobs at Bridgend bringing the total workforce to 1500 at the end of the three-year period. The expansion is part of a wider move by Sony Corp &lt;SNE.T> to locate more production capacity nearer its markets a spokesman said. Reuter
SONY TO EXPAND U.K. TELEVISION OUTPUT
&lt;Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp> (NTT) expects its profits to fall to 328 billion yen in the year ending March 31 1988 from a projected 348 billion this year the company said. Total sales for the same period are expected to rise to 5506 billion yen from a projected 5328 billion this year NTT said in a business operations plan submitted to the Post and Telecommunications Ministry. NTT said it plans to make capital investments of 1770 billion yen in 1987/88 including 109 billion for research and development as against a total of 1600 billion this year. Reuter
JAPAN'S NTT FORECASTS PROFITS FALL IN 1987/88
European Community steelmakers presented the Executive Commission with a controversial plan for the future of the industry which diplomats say it may be forced reluctantly to accept. Under the plan steel output would remain subject to restrictive quotas and imports would be firmly controlled for years to come while steel firms undertook a massive slimming-down operation to adjust capacity to lower demand. Industry Commissioner Karl-Heinz Narjes has proposed the ending of the quota system by December 1988. He has proposed a return to the free market which under EC law is supposed to exist except in times of manifest crisis. But diplomats said some ministers who meet to discuss this idea on March 19 will argue that steel firms are in crisis in their countries with orders falling as customers switch to alternative products and accounts firmly in the red. Ministers from the ECs major steel producing countries are likely to shy away from Narjes proposals and could back the industrys own plan instead in the hope of minimising the political impact of plant closures they said. Industry sources said the plan presented to Narjes by the EC steelmakers lobby group Eurofer would retain the quota production system at least until the end of 1990. Eurofer said in a statement consultants working for it identified scope for closing plants on a voluntary basis to reduce capacity by 15.26 mln tonnes a year. Cuts were still insufficient in one production area that of hot rolled coils and further talks were needed. Eurofer added the industry would need the support of the Commission and governments in carrying out a closure program particularly with social costs such as redundancy payments. The EC steel industry has already shed 240000 jobs this decade while reducing annual capacity by 31 mln tonnes. Reuter
EC COMMISSION GIVEN PLAN TO SAVE STEEL INDUSTRY
The London Stock Exchange said its ruling council has decided to close the trading floor for government bonds (gilts) and equities in due course because most of the business is now done between brokers offices. A trading floor for traded options will be retained. Dwindling activity on the exchange floor reflects the introduction of the new dealing system known as SEAQ which was part of the Big Bang restructuring of the market last October. Since then brokers and market-makers have been dealing on the basis of competing share quotes displayed on screens. REUTER
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE TO CLOSE TRADING FLOOR
Eagle Telephonics Inc said it signed a two-year agreement under which Pacific Telesis Groups &lt;PAC> Pacific Bell unit will buy its Eagle line of electronic key telephone systems for internal use. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Reuter
EAGLE TELEPHONICS <EGLA> SELLS TELEPHONES
Shr 10 cts vs 14 cts Net 531896 vs 727781 Revs 16.0 mln 16.8 mln Six mths Shr 30 cts vs 39 cts Net 1532431 vs 2000732 Revs 32.7 mln vs 34.5 mln Reuter
DURO-TEST CORP <DUR> 2ND QTR JAN 31 NET
Qtly div 14 cts vs 14 cts prior Pay March 13 Record March Two Reuter
<FRANKLIN UTILITIES FUND> SETS PAYOUT
Shr 67 cts vs 23 cts Net 5220000 vs 3143000 Revs 236.1 mln vs 256.2 mln Avg shrs 7.8 mln vs 13.7 mln Six Mths Shr 85 cts vs 59 cs Net 8919000 vs 8158000 Revs 483.8 mln vs 515.5 mln Avg shrs 10.4 mln vs 13.7 mln NOTE: Fiscal 1987 second quarter and first half earnings include a gain of 3.4 mln dlrs and exclude preferred dividend requirements of five mln dlrs in the quarter and 5.6 mln dlrs in the first half. Fiscal 1986 net reduced by currency losses equal to six cts a share in the second quarter and equal to nine cts in the six months. Reuter
GELCO CORP <GEL> 2ND QTR JAN 31 NET
Qtly div 10 cts vs 8-1/3 cts prior Pay April 21 Record March 20 NOTE: Interchange Financial Services Corp. Reuter
INTERNCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES <ISBJ> PAYOUT UP
Kapok Corp said it is in techical default of its loans from Southeast Banking Corp &lt;STB> and Murray Steinfeld but is negotiating with the lenders. It said neither has declared the loans due. The company said it has agreed to sell the Peter Pan Restaurant in Urbana Md. for 1100000 dlrs or one mln dlrs after the payment of expenses. Reuter
KAPOK CORP <KPK> IN TECHNICAL DEFAULT
Shr 11 cts vs 13 cts Net 1037690 vs 1270460 Sales 10.1 mln vs 9215836 Six Mths Shr 25 cts vs 31 cts Net 2319376 vs 2930507 Sales 21.2 mln vs 18.9 mln Reuter
NEWPORT CORP <NESP> 2ND QTR JAN 31 NET
Shr loss 14 cts vs loss 21 cts Net loss 353000 vs loss 541000 Revs 2668000 vs 2525000 Avg shrs 24523000 vs 2552300 Reuter
KAPOK CORP <KPK> 1ST QTR DEC 31 LOSS
Shr six cts vs four cts Net 383189 vs 241857 Revs 1506756 vs 793459 12 mths Shr 24 cts vs 15 cts Net 1520797 vs 929017 Revs 5268486 vs 2617995 Reuter
PREFERRED HEALTHCARE LTD <PHCC> 4TH QTR NET
Qtly div 11 cts vs 11 cts prior Pay April 17 Record March 20 Reuter
TRANZONIC COS <TNZ> SETS QUARTERLY
Neutrogena Corp said it may purchase up to 100000 shares of its outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market to reduce dilution from the future issue of employee stock options. The company said it currently has 9.2 mln shares outstanding. It said the shares that may be purchased and those currently outstanding will be adjusted to reflect a three-for-two stock split effective March two. Reuter
NUEUTROGENA <NGNA> TO BUY BACK STOCK
Oper Shr loss 40 cts vs loss 10 cts Oper net loss 2136000 vs loss 467000 Revs 21.9 mln vs 12.9 mln 12 mths Oper shr loss 63 cts vs loss 30 cts Oper net loss 3499000 vs loss 1756000 Revs 82.0 mln vs 54.5 mln NOTE: Excludes income from discontinued operations of 1478000 vs 952000 for qtr and 31.2 mln vs 6500000 for year. Excludes extraordinary charge of 2503000 for current qtr and 4744000 for year. Reuter
CRONUS INDUSTRIES INC <CRNS> 4TH QTR LOSS
Shr loss four cts vs loss one ct Net loss 413021 vs loss 163932 Revs 600971 vs 665800 Reuter
MERCURY ENTERTAINMENT CORP <MCRY> YEAR NOV 30
Directors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange will meet Wednesday to consider a membership petition asking the exchange to tighten rules covering trading activities in the widely-popular Standard and Poors 500 Stock Index futures pit an exchange executive said. The petition calls for elimination of dual trading a legal practice where traders execute customer orders as well as trade for their own account. But exchange officials noted this practice also provides an opportunity for a trader to engage in what is called front-running where traders enter orders for their own account before executing orders for their customers. Leo Melamed CME special counsel said directors will rule on the petition on Wednesday but added that a special S and P Advisory Committee has been studying S and P 500 futures trading conditions for the last six months and is expected to submit a complete list of recommendations within 30 days. In addition to a recommendation on dual trading Melamed said the special committee will also make suggestions about a possible automatic order entry and execution system for S and P 500 futures and futures-options and rule changes that would alleviate congested conditions in the trading pit. Melamed said directors are likely to approve the recommendations of the special committee because most actions of the board are in line with committee recommendations. CME senior vice president Gerald Beyer said if the board accepts the members petition this week a rule change will be submitted to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for approval. If the board does nothing or rejects the petition request a rule change must then be submitted to the exchange membership for a vote within 15 days Beyer said. Melamed also added that if the petition must be ruled on before the recommendations from the special committee are made it will confuse the issue. Not all traders agree on the need to eliminiate or restrict dual trading. Although Jonathan Wolff senior vice president at Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette noted dual trading is evident on most exchanges. Its a question of the integrity of the person you do business with Wolff said. Futures traders who act as brokers however maintain that trading for their own accounts is necessary in order to make up for errors they inevitably make when filling customer orders in chaotic futures trading pits. To have an absolute ban on dual trading makes it difficult for a broker to function because of his errors said John Michael vice president at First Options of Chicago. What it comes down to is the ethics of the people involved he said. Furthermore the competitive nature of futures brokerage makes front-running risky to a brokers livelihood he said. If I ever discovered a broker doing it (front-running) or even suspected him of doing it I would cut him off Michael said. An average broker in the Treasury bond futures pit for instance will fill orders for 5000 to 10000 contracts a day at 1.25 dlrs per contract floor sources said. Even figuring what is considered a typical 25 pct loss for errors such brokerage can be lucrative. Front-running by brokers not only runs the market risk of an adverse price move but also the risk of losing the brokerage business Michael said. Reuter
CME PLANS RULE CHANGES TIGHTENING S/P TRADING
Net income 154.7 mln pesos vs 127.5 mln Operating revenues 4.42 billion vs 3.3 billion Operating profit 621.2 mln vs 203.4 mln Earnings per share 4.80 vs 3.95 NOTE: Company statement said gold operations contributed 74 pct of consolidated earnings. Reuter
BENGUET CORP <BE> CALENDAR 1986
Pogo Producing Co said it has consolidated its onshore and offshore Gulf Coast divisions into a Southern Division responsible for its onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and development activities in the Gulf Coast and Gulf of Mexico areas. Reuter
POGO <PPP> CONSOLIDATES TWO DIVISIONS
Unocal Corps Union Oil Co said it lowered its posted prices for crude oil one to 1.50 dlrs a barrel in the eastern region of the U.S. effective Feb 26. Union said a 1.50 dlrs cut brings its posted price for the U.S. benchmark grade West Texas Intermediate to 16 dlrs. Louisiana Sweet also was lowered 1.50 dlrs to 16.35 dlrs the company said. No changes were made in Unions posted prices for West Coast grades of crude oil the company said. Reuter
UNOCAL <UCL> UNIT CUTS CRUDE OIL POSTED PRICES
Panhandle Eastern Corps Trunkline Gas Co pipeline subsidiary said it is reducing the commodity component of its wholesale natural gas rate four pct effective immediately. In a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Trunkline said it is reducing its commodity rate -- the portion of the total rate based on the price of gas -- to 2.58 dlrs per mln Btu from 2.69 dlrs per mln Btu. The company said the lower rate results from a reduction in the average price the pipeline is paying for gas adding this reflects contract reformation agreemats with producers. Reuter
PANHANDLE'S <PEL> TRUNKLINE REDUCES GAS RATES
WEDGE Group Inc a Houston investment firm with a 5.5 pct stake in American Medical International Inc said it has had talks with Pesch and Co which is seeking control of the company. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission WEDGE which is owned by Issam Fares a Lebanese citizen living in Switzerland also said it discussed the possibility of joining with others in its own bid to seek control of AMI. WEDGE stressed that it has no current plans to seek control of AMI but refused to rule out a takeover try in the future. WEDGE said it has had discussions with AMI management Pesch the closely held health care and investment concern controlled by Chicago physician LeRoy Pesch and other AMI shareholders. It did not specify in its SEC filing which issues -- selling its AMI stake or joining with others in a takeover try -- were discussed with which group. But it said the talks did not produce any agreements or understandings. WEDGE said it believes that some form of restructuring of AMI and its business would be highly desirable and appropriate at this time. WEDGE which holds 4.8 mln shares of AMI common stock said it plans to hold further talks with company management Pesch and other shareholders. Pesch last week sweetened his bid for the company to 22 dlrs a share in cash and securties or 1.91 billion dlrs based on AMIs total outstanding from an all-cash 20 dlr a share bid which the company rejected. Reuter
INVESTOR GROUP HAS TALKS WITH PESCH ON AMI <AMI>
Qtly div four cts vs four cts prior Pay March 27 Record March 13 Reuter
I.M.S. INTERNATIONAL INC <IMSI> SETS QUARTERLY
Banner Industries Inc said 19.8 mln of the outstanding 20 mln shares in Rexnord Inc were tendered pursuant to its 26.25 dlr a share offer that closed at midnight EST Feb 27. Together with the five mln Rexnard shares it already owns the company said it now holds a 97 pct stake in the company. It said the completion of the deal is subject to approval by Rexnard holders and to other closing conditions. It expects the deal to close in about 60 days. Reuter
BANNER <BNR> COMPLETES TENDER FOR REXNORD <REX>
Qtly div 36 cts vs 36 cts prior Pay April one Record March 13 Reuter
MUTUAL OF OMAHA INTEREST SHARES <MUO> QTLY DIV
Mobil Corps Mobil Chemical Cos subsidiary the worlds largest producer of disposable plastic products said it will enter the food packaging market. Mobil said it will begin making clear container food packaging for supermarkets and institutions in March and will sharply raise production in the fall to an annual rate of more than 20 mln pounds of finished products. It said industry demand for the products is projected to rise 15 pct annually over the next five years and it is prepared to boost production substantially with future plant additions. Mobils Chemicals Plastic Packaging Division which will make and sell the new product line operates nine plants in the U.S. and one in Canada. It also said the clear containers seen in packaging for cookies candy and bakery trays grocery sald bar items and other items will be made from oriented polystyrene at the companys Canandiagua N.Y. plant. Reuter
MOBIL <MOB> UNIT TO PRODUCE FOOD PACKAGING
Bank of America NT and SAs &lt;BAC.N> West German branch said it is negotiating the sale of Bankhaus Centrale Credit AG a small local West German bank it acquired in 1965 and of its West German Visa credit card operation. Michael Seibel Bank of America vice-president and regional manager said the negotiations were proceeding well. He declined to give further details. Bank of Americas West German branch lost some 32 mln marks in 1985. The result includes profit and loss transfers from Bankhaus Centrale Credit and the Visa organisation. The sale of the units is part of the banks worldwide restructuring plan. -- corrects year of loss in third paragraph in item which originally ran February 27. Reuter
CORRECTED - BANKAMERICA NEGOTIATING UNITS SALE
OSR Corp said it has agreed to acquire the properties and assets of Telcom International Group for 10.5 mln common shares which would give former Telcom owners an 84 pct interest in the combined company. Telcom is an international film and television distributor. The assets being acquired consist mostly of distribution rights to films valued at over one mln dlrs the company said. OSR said as part of the acquisition agreement is is required to sell its 80 pct interest in Standard Knickerbocker Ltd which makes jeans in Canada. OSR said it expects to net about 150000 dlrs on the sale of Standard Knickerbocker. The company said both transactions are subject to approval by shareholders at a meeting to be held in April or May it said. Reuter
OSR <OSRC> TO MAKE ACQUISITION
Mercury Entertainment Corp said it expects improved results in 1987. The company today reported a loss for the year ended November 30 of 413021 dlrs on revenues of 600971 dlrs compared with a loss of 163932 dlrs on revenues of 665800 dlrs a year before. Reuter
MERCURY ENTERTAINMENT <MCRY> SEES BETTER RESULTS
Cronus Industries Inc said it agreed to sell its heat transfer equipment business Southwestern Engineering Co for a slight premium over book value plus a release of Cronus from liability on approximately three mln dlrs of subsidiary indebtedness. The company said the sale to a subsidiary of Senior Engineering Group PLC a British company will take place this month. Reuter
CRONUS INDUSTRIES INC <CRNS> SELLS UNIT
Qtly div 65 cts vs 65 cts prior Pay May Seven Record April Seven Reuter
UNISYS CORP <UIS> SETS QUARTERLY
Jacobson Stores Inc said its board voted a three-for-two stock split payble March 30 record March 13. In other action Jacobsons directors approved an increase in its quarterly dividend to 11 cts on a post split basis payable April 14 record March 30. The new dividend rate represents a 32 pct increase over the 12-1/2 cts paid quarterly on a pre-split basis. Reuter
JACOBSON <JCBS> VOTES SPLIT, INCREASES PAYOUT
AW Computer Systems Inc said it signed an 850000 dlr agreement with TEC America Inc &lt;TCK> to develop and supply intelligent cash register controllers. Under terms of the agreement AW Computer said it will design and manufacture intelligent controllers for resale by TEC worldwide. The company said the controller will allow TECs new FT-70 point-of-sale terminal system to communicate with IBM PC/AT personal computers and compatibles. The controller will be ready for shipment by October the company said. Reuter
AW COMPUTER <AWCSA> IN SUPPLY AGREEMENT
Oper shr 18 cts vs 51 cts Oper net 1048000 vs 1870000 Revs 72.2 mln vs 73.5 mln Avg shrs 5910000 vs 3680000 Year Oper shr 82 cts vs 72 cts Oper net 4307000 vs 2637000 Revs 295.3 mln vs 287.5 mln Avg shrs 5235000 vs 3680000 NOTE: Results exclude one-time gains of 223000 or four cts and 564000 or 11 cts for 1986 qtr and year vs gains of 6359000 or 1.73 dlrs and 7318000 or 1.99 dlrs for prior periods. Reuter
HARLEY-DAVIDSON INC <HDI> 4TH QTR NET
Hoechst AG of West Germany said it has completed the acquisition of Celanese Corp. Hoechst acquired a majority of Celanese shares in a recent tender offer at 245 dlrs per common share. Reuter
<HOECHST AG> COMPLETES CELANESE <CZ> ACQUISITION
Americus Trust for American Home Products Shares said it extended its deadline for accepting tendered shares until November 26 an extension of nine months. The trust which will accept up to 7.5 mln shares of American Home Products &lt;AHP> said it has already received tenders for about four mln shares. The trust is managed by Alex. Brown and Sons Inc &lt;ABSB> and was formed November 26 1986. Reuter
AMERICUS TRUST <HPU> EXTENDS DEADLINE
Shr 59 cts vs 48 cts Net 3244000 vs 2584000 Revs 169.3 mln vs 156.0 mln 12 mths Shr 1.78 dlrs vs 1.32 dlrs Net 9733000 vs 7164000 Revs 585.6 mln vs 541.0 Reuter
MORSE SHOE INC <MRS> 4TH QTR NET
Benetton Group Spa &lt;BTOM.MI> said it reached agreement with textiles concern GFT-Gruppo Finanziario Tessile Spa for a joint venture in the financial services sector. A Benetton spokeswoman said details of the accord would be outlined at a news conference on Thursday in Milan. The Italian clothing group has targeted financial services as a sector in which to expand its activities. In January Benetton acquired a large minority stake in the Italian unit of the U.K. Financial services group Prudential Corp PLC [PRUL.L]. Reuter
BENETTON IN FINANCIAL SERVICES JOINT VENTURE
Talks at the extended special meeting of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) on the reintroduction of export quotas continued but chances of success were still almost impossible to gauge delegates said. Producer delegates were meeting to examine a Colombian proposal to resume historical quotas from April 1 to September with a promise to define specific new criteria by which a new quota system would be calculated in September for the new crop year they said. Opinions among delegates over the potential for reaching a quota agreement varied widely. Some consumers said the mood of the meeting seemed slightly more optimistic. But Brazils unwillingness to concede any of its traditional 30.55 pct of its export market share looks likely to preclude any accord other delegates said. No fresh proposals other than the Colombian initiative had been tabled formally today delegates said. A full council meeting was set for 1900 hours for a progress report delegates said. Reuter
ICO QUOTA TALKS CONTINUE, OUTCOME HARD TO GAUGE
The staff of the federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to recommend that the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) be charged with securities fraud in connection with its July 1983 default on 2.25 billion dlrs of bonds a WPPSS official told Reuters. WPPSS attorney Ron English said the system was advised by SEC staff attorneys that the five SEC commissioners would be asked to charge WPPSS in connection with its official statements about its plans to build its No. 3 and No. 4 nuclear power plants in the Pacific Northwest at the time it was selling the bonds. English in a telephone interview said the SEC staff planned to allege that WPPSS had overstated the demand for power in the region and had understated the cost of the plants which were to built with the bonds proceeds. English denied the allegations. He said WPPSS had made no public forecasts of power demand in connection with the bond sale and had never understated the cost of the plants. We at all times told the public everything we knew about the costs he said. English said WPPSS had no indication when the SEC might meet on the staffs recommendations. The SEC as a matter of policy never comments on its enforcement activities. The SECs WPPSS investigation began in late 1983 and the agencys slow pace on the probe has been publicly criticized on several occasions since then by Rep. John Dingell the Michigan Democrat who chairs the House panel responsible for the SECs budget and operations. Of the five nuclear plants originally envisioned by WPPSS one has been completed two remain under construction and two others--those for which the defaulted bonds were sold-- have been terminated. Reuter
SEC STAFF ADVISES FRAUD CHARGES AGAINST WPPSS
&lt;Pacific Western Airlines Corp> said it integrated the senior management of Pacific Western and recently acquired Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd in preparation for the companies merger this summer. Pacific Western said it appointed president and chief executive Rhys Eaton as chairman and chief executive in the new management structure and Murray Sigler as president. Sigler was previously president of Pacific Westerns airline unit Pacific Western Airlines Ltd. Pacific Western acquired Canadian Pacific Air Lines for 300 mln dlrs last December from Canadian Pacific Ltd &lt;CP>. Canadian Pacific Air Lines said president and chief executive Donald Carty and four senior vice-presidents resigned last week. Carty said in a company memorandum that he accepted another senior post in commercial aviation and that some of the vice-presidents were taking early retirment and others were resigning for personal reasons. Pacific Western said the new management structure will facilitate our objective of proceeding quickly to successfully position ourselves in the marketplace as a single airline network beginning this summer. Reuter
PACIFIC WESTERN FUSES MANAGEMENT WITH CP AIR
Amgen Inc said it signed a letter of intent for an estimated 75 mln dlr research and development limited partnership to fund the clinical investigation of certain pharmaceutical products currently under development. Neither terms of the arrangement nor the products covered by the partnership were disclosed but Amgen said the limited partnership units will include warrants to purchase Amgen common stock. Reuter
AMGEN <AMGN> TO FORM PARTNERSHIP
Benetton Group Spa [BTOM.MI] said it reached agreement with textiles concern [GFT-Gruppo Finanziario Tessile Spa] for a joint venture in the financial services sector. A Benetton spokeswoman said details of the accord would be outlined at a news conference on Thursday in Milan. The Italian clothing group has targeted financial services as a sector in which to expand its activities. In January Benetton acquired a large minority stake in the Italian unit of the U.K. Financial services group Prudential Corp PLC [PRUL.L]. Reuter
BENETTON IN FINANCIAL SERVICES JOINT VENTURE
The Association of International Bond Dealers AIBD said it will cooperate with major clearing agencies Cedel and Euroclear on a eurobond trade confirmation and matching system to come into force by September this year. The system designed to give market participants a fast and reliable way of checking whether transactions are matched will initially cover reporting of confirmed and mismatched trades. It will include recording additional trade data checking comparison and matching any new elements but will only apply initially to delivery against payment transactions AIBD said. The AIBD said in a statement it would be responsible for developing suitable rules to back up the two clearing systems when they introduce their new matching matching facilities and confirmation systems by September this year. Euroclear and Cedel intend to bring a trade date-plus-one matching capacity reporting on a given day on trades entered by 1000 London time designed to work with a planned AIBD rule requiring the entry of previous days trades by that time. The confirmation system covering critical trade data is designed to aid the trader and the settlements department and also reduce trading risks in volatile markets AIBD said. REUTER
AIBD, CEDEL, EUROCLEAR JOIN IN TRADE MATCH SYSTEM
Zapata Corp said it does not intend to pay the interest due March 15 on its 10-1/4 pct subordinated debentures due 1997 or the interest due May One on its 10-7/8 pct subordinated debentures due 2001. Zapata said the results of continuing discussions with its bank lenders and the companys future financial position will determine Zapatas ability to meet its obligations to holders of the subordinated debentures. The company said deferrals of payment obligations and covenant waivers provided by all of its bank lenders which were scheduled to expire February 28 have been extended through April 30. Zapata stopped paying interest on the debentures in April 1986. Reuter
ZAPATA <ZOS> WON'T PAY INTEREST ON DEBENTURES
Shr 24 cts vs 1.20 dlrs Net 5.8 mln vs 20.2 mln Revs 193.5 mln vs 107.0 mln Avg shrs 16.4 mln vs 12.3 mln NOTE: 1987 net includes tax credits equal to 18 cts. 1986 net includes tax credits of 17 cts and a gain of 1.16 dlrs from a change in accounting for pensions. Periods end January 31 1987 and 1986 respectively. Reuter
HARNISCHFEGER INDUSTRIES INC <HPH> 1ST QTR NET
Bryson Oil and Gas Plc a Belfast Northern Ireland oil company said it has acquired an 8.5 pct stake in Cynergy Corp and took steps to help it consider the possibility of seeking control or influencing the company. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission in which it disclosed its stake Bryson said it also asked Cynergy for a list shareholder list in case it decided to communicate with the holders. Shareholder information would be vital to anyone planning a tender offer and is commonly requested by individuals or groups mulling takeover attempts. Bryson told the SEC it may review the feasibility of trying to influence the management policies of Cynergy or of trying to gain control of the company through representation on its board of directors. A shareholder list would also be necessary for a group trying to mount a campaign for the election of directors. Bryson which said it has retained D.F. King and Co Inc to work on its Cynergy dealings said it bought 841887 Cynergy common shares for 5.4 mln dlrs to gain an equity position in the company. Last week Texas developer James Sowell told the SEC he sold his entire 823387-share stake in the company. Reuter
IRISH OIL CONCERN HAS 8.5 PCT OF CYNERGY <CRG>
ALCAN ALUMINIUM LTD SETS THREE FOR TWO STOCK SPLIT
Shr 92 cts vs 83 cts Net 30.8 mln vs 27.5 mln Sales 1.40 billion vs 1.32 billion Year Shr 3.00 dlrs vs 2.57 dlrs Net 184.8 mln vs 154.8 mln Sales 5.38 billion vs 5.06 billion Reuter
ALBERTSON'S INC <ABS> 4TH QTR JAN 29 NET
Qtly div six cts vs five cts Net 188000 vs 130000 Sales 12.2 mln vs 10.1 mln Avg shrs 3029930 vs 2764544 Year Shr 81 cts vs 1.45 dlrs Net 2463000 vs 3718000 Sales 52.4 mln vs 47.5 mln Avg shrs 3029930 vs 2566680 NOTE: 1985 year net includes gain 500000 dlrs frol life insurance on deceased director. 1985 quarter net includes 150000 dlr tax credit. Reuter
U.S. INTEC INC <INTK> 4TH QTR NET
Franklin Resources Inc said it formed three mutual funds that free Pennsylvania residents of taxes levied by the states counties on stocks bonds and mutual fund shares. The funds include the Franklin Pennsylvania Investors U.S. Government Securities Fund which invests in Ginnie Mae securities and the Franklin Pennsylvania Investors High Income Fund investing in high-yield corporate bonds. Both funds pay monthly dividends. The Franklin Pennsylvania Investors Equity Fund invests in stocks of U.S. companies and pays semi-annual dividends. Reuter
FRANKLIN RESOURCES <BEN> FORMS THREE FUNDS
Qtly div 48 cts vs 44 cts prior Pay May One Record April One Reuter
CINCINNATI BELL INC <CSN> RAISES QUARTERLY
Cincinnati Bell Inc said its board declared a two-for-one stock split subject to two thirds approval at the annual meeting on April 20 of an increase in authorized common shares to 120 mln from 60 mln. It said the split would be payable May 20 to holders of record May Five. Reuter
CINCINNATI BELL <CSN> SETS STOCK SPLIT
BRT Realty Trust said it raised its quarterly dividend to 50 cts a share from the 42 cts paid in the previous quarter. It said the dividend is payable March 31 to shareholders of record March 17. BRT also said it filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the public offering of 1.2 mln shares of common stock. BRT which has about 3.3 mln common shares currently outstanding said Merrill Lynch Capital Markets will be the sole manager of the offering. Reuter
BRT REALTY TRUST <BRT> RAISES QUARTERLY PAYOUT
Universal Health Realty Income Trust which recently went public said its board has declared an initial quarterly dividednd of 33 cts per share payable MArch 31 to holders of record March 16. Reuter
UNIVERSAL HEALTH REALTY <UHT> IN INITIAL PAYOUT
Shr six cts vs 12 cts Net 132151 vs 261560 Revs 622909 vs 9684287 1st half Shr nine cts vs 24 cts Net 204765 vsd 539769 Revs 1181424 vs 1867892 Reuter
QED EXPLORATION INC <QEDX> 2ND QTR JAN 31 NET
Shr 24 cts vs 15 cts Net 1520797 vs 929017 Revs 5268486 vs 2617995 Reuter
PREFERRED HEALTH CARE LTD <PHCC> YEAR DEC 31 NET
Oper shr one ct vs one ct Oper net 147000 vs 40000 Revs 13.5 mln vs 14.1 mln Year Oper shr five cts vs 20 cts Oper net 621000 vs 2274000 Revs 54.3 mln vs 56.0 mln NOTE: 1986 net excludes tax credits of 60000 dlrs in quarter and 218000 dlrs in year. Results reflect acceleration of depreciation on certain classes of mining equipment that resulted in the assets being fully depreciated in 1986. Reuter
AOI COAL CO <AOI> 4TH QTR NET
The Association of International Bond Dealers AIBD said it will cooperate with major clearing agencies Cedel and Euroclear on a eurobond trade confirmation and matching system to come into force by September this year. The system designed to give market participants a fast and reliable way of checking whether transactions are matched will initially cover reporting of confirmed and mismatched trades. It will include recording additional trade data checking comparison and matching any new elements but will only apply initially to delivery against payment transactions AIBD said. The AIBD said in a statement it would be responsible for developing suitable rules to back up the two clearing systems when they introduce their new matching matching facilities and confirmation systems by September this year. Euroclear and Cedel intend to bring a trade date-plus-one matching capacity reporting on a given day on trades entered by 1000 London time designed to work with a planned AIBD rule requiring the entry of previous days trades by that time. The confirmation system covering critical trade data is designed to aid the trader and the settlements department and also reduce trading risks in volatile markets AIBD said. Reuter
AIBD, CEDEL, EUROCLEAR JOIN IN TRADE MATCH SYSTEM
Western Digital Corp said it signed a licensing agreement under which it will sell an electronic mail software package from &lt;Consumers Software> Gilroy Calif. Western Digital said the software package named Network Courier allows computer users operating on a local area network to exchange messages and files without having to exit their current applications. Western Digital said the agreement marks its intention to widen the market for local area network products by selling specific applications rather than components. Reuter
WESTERN DIGITAL <WDC> ADDS E-MAIL PACKAGE
Midway Airlines Inc said will begin to serve several new cities in the United States this year starting April five with new flights to Atlanta from Chicago. The carrier will fly three daily Atlanta flights out of Chicagos Midway Airport using two new airplanes and aircraft acquired from KLM. Reuter
MIDWAY <MDWY> TO EXPAND SERVICE
Foothill Group Inc said its Foothill Capital Corp unit arranged the private placement of 23 mln dlrs in senior debt and 27 mln in senior subordinated debt. The senior and senior subordinated debt was purchased by institutional lenders and will bear interest at 9.4 pct and 10.15 pct respectively Foothill said. It said completion of the transaction will increase the companys capital funds to 138 mln dlrs. Reuter
FOOTHILL <GFI> ARRANGES DEBT PLACEMENT
Shr eight cts vs one ct Net 399000 vs 44000 Sales 9603000 vs 7107000 Six Mths Shr 10 cts vs one ct Net 503000 vs 69000 Sales 17.3 mln vs 13.8 mln Reuter
KEVEX CORP <KEVX> 2ND QTR JAN 31 NET
Western Union said John Pope Jr has been elected president of the telegraph company and executive vice president of the corporation. Western Union said Pope formerly the executive vice president of the company succeeds Robert Leventhal. The company said Leventhal will remain chairman and chief executive officer of the corporation and company the prinipal subsidiary of Western Union Corp. Reuter
WESTERN UNION <WU> NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
Shr 40 cts vs 30 cts Net 1408000 vs 1038000 Sales 35.2 mln vs 31.6 mln NOTE: Results restated for change to FIFO inventory accounting from LIFO which reduced 1985 net 192000 dlrs or five cts a share. Reuter
NORTH ATLANTIC INDUSTRIES INC <NATL> YEAR NET
&lt;Churchill Communications Corp> said it signed an agreement under which it will sell and service Western Union Corps telex electronic mail and long distance services to customers not directly assigned to Western Union representatives. Churchill a privately held firm that processes electronic mail services said the agreement extends for two years with options for renewal. Reuter
CHURCHILL TO MARKET WESTERN UNION <WU> SERVICES
Combustion Engineering Inc said it won a contract worth more than 50 mln dlrs for parts and services for a 600 megawatt coal-fired power plant run by the China National Technical Import Corp. It said it will supply plant engineering steam generator components and air quality control systems. Initial delivery is set for early 1988. Reuter
COMBUSTION ENGINEERING <CSP> SETS CHINA PACT
Alcan Aluminium Ltd said its board declared a three-for-two stock split subject to shareholder approval at the April 23 annual meeting. The company said the split would be payable to shareholders of record on May Five and the split would take effect at the close of business on that date. New certificates will be issued around June Five. Reuter
ALCAN ALUMINIUM LTD <AL> SETS STOCK SPLIT
Shr 10 cts vs nine cts Net 388000 vs 328000 Sales 7.1 mln vs 4.1 mln Avg shrs 4066309 vs 3688890 Year Shr 37 cts vs 30 cts Net 1415000 vs 955000 Sales 27 mln vs 13.1 mln Avg shrs 3849659 vs 3133446 Reuter
BUFFETS INC <BOCB> 4TH QTR NET
STANDARD OIL SETS 154 MLN SWISS FRANC NOTE WITH 3-1/4 PCT COUPON AND CURRENCY WARRANTS
Shr 38 cts vs 26 cts Net 4955000 vs 3444000 Revs 81.7 mln vs 59.3 mln 12 mths Shr 1.41 dlrs vs 80 cts Net 18.6 mln vs 10.5 mln Revs 286.4 mln vs 242.8 mln Reuter
STANDARD MOTORS PRODUCTS INC <SMP> 4TH QTR NET
Commercial Credit Co said it has completed the sale of its domestic vehicle leasing unit McCullagh Leasing Inc the New England Merchants Leasing Corp for an after-tax gain of 17 mln dlrs. Commercial Credit said it received 68 mln dlrs and the repayment of 250 mln dlrs in debt for McCullagh. It said its Canadian vehicle leasing unit Commercial Credit Corp Ltd will also be sold to New England Merchants with closing expected in March subject to Canadian regulatory approval. Reuter
COMMERCIAL CREDIT <CCC> TO HAVE GAIN ON SALE
Shr 32 cts vs five cts Net 2362000 vs 384000 Revs 29.5 mln vs 31.2 mln Year Shr 66 cts vs 18 cts Net 4869000 vs 1336000 Revs 119.2 mln vs 120.2 mln NOTE: Net includes tax credits of 963000 dlrs vs 720000 dlrs in quarter and 613000 dlrs vs 1460000 dlrs in year. Year net includes gains on sale of assets of 35 cts shr vs 14 cts shr. Reuter
AIR WIS SERVICES INC <ARWS> 4TH QTR NET
OPEC president Rilwanu Lukman accused oil market manipulators of drawing down their own stocks and spreading rumours to give the impression OPEC was breaking its 15.8 mln barrels per day output ceiling set last December. Lukman told reporters the aim was to pull prices below the 18 dlrs per barrel reference level set by OPEC. People are playing a waiting game to test the will of OPEC by drawing down more on their stock than normal and this is having the effect of giving an apparent excess supply on the market which we know is not real Lukman said. Lukman Nigerias oil minister said that despite probable minor deviations by one or two member countries basically OPEC is producing around what it said it would produce. After OPECs price and production accord last December the market firmed steadily but spot prices fell in the last week to around 16 dlrs. Industry reports estimated the organization was producing up to one mln bpd above its ceiling during February. But Lukman was confident OPEC would maintain its discipline in view of past experience. We have the experience of what happened in 1986 behind us when violations of agreements led to the collapse of the market he said. Lukman was in Kingston as a guest of the state-owned Petroleum Corp of Jamaica. REUTER
OPEC PRESIDENT SAYS OIL MARKET BEING MANIPULATED
Shr 30 cts vs 36 cts Net 1914388 vs 1906095 Sales 58.7 mln vs 40.6 mln Six mths Shr 47 cts vs 53 cts Net 2961718 vs 2817439 Sales 107.6 mln vs 74.9 mln Avg shrs 6342353 vs 5342353 Reuter
ARBOR DRUGS INC <ARBR> 2ND QTR JAN 31 NET
Epitope Inc said its board of directors has authorized a three-for-one common stock split for which shareholder approval is expected in the next two weeks. The company announced a two-for-one split last week but said the board reconvened and agreed to change it to a three-for-one split. Epitope is involved in the production of monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic use in AIDS and other immunological diseases. Reuter
EPITOPE <EPTO> SETS THREE FOR ONE STOCK SPLIT
AMC SAYS STEPS BEING TAKEN TO BUILD NEW JEEP AT ALTERNATE SITE AFTER UAW TALKS FAIL