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Tapp Technologies wins two printing awardsHewlett-Packard’s HP Indigo Group awarded Napa-based Tapp Technologies, Inc. two out of a possible 10 Label Master Awards for digital printing excellence at the international LabelExpo, Sept. 26-29 in Brussels, Belgium.This was a feat unmatched by the 36 other competitors representing companies from around the globe.Tapp was awarded first place in the wine label category for its entry, Artiste — Sunny. This label, printed for Artiste Winery, in Santa Ynez, is a reproduction of an original painting featuring a sunbather on a beach. Tapp was also awarded first place in the special finishing category. The artisan label of the St. Francis Winery, Sonoma."We are honored to have HP Indigo recognize our commitment to digital printing excellence and to be ranked among the best digital printers in the world," said Bill Knopka, vice president and general manager of Tapp Technologies, Inc.Tapp’s digital offset operation is based in Napa and serves the North American wine industry.In July, Tapp Technologies had the distinction of being the only North American printer to win a first place category award at the 2007 FINAT Label Award competition and the only printer globally to earn awards on three distinct printing platforms, offset, flexo and digital.
FTSE skids as credit woes hit banks worldwide
LONDON, Nov 19 - Britain's leading share index skidded 2.7 percent on Monday, suffering its biggest one-day fall since mid-August, as investors in financial stocks around the globe took fright after Citigroup was downgraded. The FTSE 100 ended down 170.4 points at 6,120.8, as shares plunged on major indexes across Europe and on Wall Street. .
Oritani Financial Corp. (MHC) to Acquire Greater Community Bancorp
WASHINGTON TWP, N.J. and TOTOWA, N.J., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kevin J. Lynch, Chairman, President and CEO of Oritani Financial Corp. (Nachrichten) (MHC) ("Oritani") the holding company for Oritani Savings Bank, announced that Oritani has entered into a Merger Agreement providing for the acquisition of Greater Community Bancorp (Nachrichten) ("Greater Community") by Oritani. Greater Community is the holding company for Greater Community Bank. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Greater Community shareholders will be entitled to receive $21.40 per share or $187 million in aggregate deal value. The consideration mix will be 60% stock and 40% cash. The exchange ratio for the stock consideration will equal $21.40 divided by the Oritani market value as defined in the Merger Agreement, provided that the exchange ratio shall not be more than 1.4588 or less than 1.1935.
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FESTIVALS Festival of Trees Holiday Luncheon Noon. Wednesday, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road. Enjoy a luncheon amid designer decorations and holiday cheer. www.masmacon.com. 477-3232. $50, advance registration required. Festival of Trees Preview Gala 7 p.m. Thursday, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road. Designer decorations, live and silent auctions, open bar, cocktail buffet by Natalia's, live music by Bone n' Holmes, and the Winter Wonderland and Sugar Plum Shops. www.masmacon.com. 477-3232. $80, advance registration required. Festival of Trees Display Nov. 16-26. Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road. See holiday trees decorated by local designers. www.masmacon.com. 477-3232.
Markets stomped by mortgage woes
Stocks sold off early Friday, continuing steep losses for the week, as Wachovia and the government-backed Fannie Mae became the latest victims hit by the fallout in the mortgage sector. The 30-share Dow Jones industrial average (Charts) and the broader S&P 500 index (Charts) each fell about 1.2 percent, while the tech-fueled Nasdaq (Charts) slid over 2 percent. Wachovia (Charts, Fortune 500), the nation's fourth-largest bank, said the complex debt instruments it held in its portfolio declined in value by an estimated $1.1 billion before taxes in October, leading to a $600 million loan-loss charge for the current quarter. The bank had reported $1.3 billion in pre-tax losses in the third quarter tied to pools of debt backed by home loans. Fannie Mae (Charts), the largest buyer and backer of home loans in the country, said Friday its profits fell by half over the last nine months.
The SNP and the mystery of the vanishing bobbies
THE Scottish Government suffered a major and embarrassing setback yesterday when Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, admitted his long-awaited plan to put an additional 1,000 police on Scotland's streets might not deliver a single extra officer. The SNP came to power in May promising to create 1,000 "new" police officers. .
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