News Briefs

 Development

Arcade developer gets extension

FRAMINGHAM - The Framingham Planning Board voted 5-0 to give Framingham Acquisition LLC, developer of the Arcade at Downtown Framingham, a six-month extension to finalize plans for the project, get a construction bid, study the market and secure financing. The board’s Sept. 15 vote puts off the demolition of 80 Kendall St. and five residential buildings on Frederick Street. Framigham Acquisition’s most recent redevelopment plan reportedly calls for 290 apartments and 50,000 square feet of commercial space, a rooftop garden and fitness facilities. The project is expected to cost $60 million.

Fisherville overlay district goes to Town Meeting

GRAFTON - The overlay district that would encompass the site of the former Fisherville Mill may be up for revision after the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development recommended 23 changes to the plan. The current design calls for a mill-style building with more than 200 residential units, restaurant and retail space. The bylaw’s adoption would also provide the town with financial incentives from the state. Fisherville Redevelopment LLC has been cleaning up the former Superfund site to ultimately host a mixed-use development. The plan is set to go to Town Meeting set for Nov. 20. The overlay district is a new zoning bylaw, developed under the state’s Smart Growth Zoning statute, designed to allow site-specific redevelopment at a density not allowed under present zoning.

Central Mass. seeks tourism brand

WORCESTER – The Central Mass./Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which promotes tourism for 60 cities and towns in Central Massachusetts, is entering the final phase of a year-long branding effort to draw more visitors to the region. The CMWCCVB will create a brand blueprint over two months to put into action a strategy formed over the last 11 months. CVB showcased the results of the $35,000 branding study by Gary Sherwin of Believable Brands on Sept. 21 at its annual meeting. Sherwin’s branding process avoids relying on slogans and logos and stresses identifying the emotional selling points of a destination. The study polled 738 visitors to Central Mass. and 209 non-visitors, along with residents, about their likes and dislikes. It found that both rank the region’s rural beauty, outdoor recreation, history and easy access among its top attractions.

Biomedical

Charles River Labs renews expanded contract with NCI

WILMINGTON - Charles River Laboratories Inc. will receive $111.6 million over the next 10 years as part of its renewal contract with the National Cancer Institute. The revised deal is more than the double the size of the expiring contract and expands the two organizations’ on-going deals. Under the new terms, Charles River Labs will construct a new building to help provide research model production and related services through its growing consulting and staffing services group. The new contract also calls for Charles River to assume responsibility for the NCI Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center’s tumor and natural products repository.

Cytyc bids $374m for Vision Systems

MARLBORO – Cytyc Corp. has lodged a $374 million cash offer for Vision Systems Ltd., an Australian firm specializing in diagnostic instruments for detecting cancer, reffirming its intention to complete the all-cash offer for Vision systems. In a Sept. 22 statement, Cytyc noted that patent litigation filed Sept. 18 by a competing bidder, Arizona-based Ventana Medical Systems Inc., "litigation will not stand in the way of our intention to complete this tender offer" and says it doesn’t regard the litigation as a material adverse change in relation to the offer. Cytyc is seeking a "bidder’s statement" that will allow Vision shareholders to expedite a deal on the offer. "Cytyc remains confident that our tender offer has no risk of antitrust issues because, unlike Ventana, Cytyc is not a competitor of Vision Systems," Cytyc stated.

Capralogics president charges litigation motive for lab break-in

HARDWICK - Stanley White, founder of Capralogics Inc., reportedly says a failed business relationship and resulting litigation may be the root cause of a break-in on the company’s lab last month, according to a report in the Telegram & Gazette. On September 6, about 23 New Zealand white rabbits were stolen from Capralogics’ medical research lab, while several others were released into the wild. Initially, an underground animal rights activists group associated with the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the incident, which is being investigated by local police and the FBI. White reportedly says statements the group makes about the company on its web site contain many inaccuracies. At its lab, Capralogics inoculates animals with proteins to make them produce antibodies for medical research and diagnostics.

ACT reports stem cell implant restores sight in rats

WORCESTER – Researchers at Advanced Cell Technologies Inc. report they used stem cells to restore sight in rats affected with a form of macular degeneration. The findings were published in the Fall 2006 issue of Cloning and Stem Cells. The scientists say they used retinal cells derived from 18 lines of human embryonic stem cells to treat the rats. ACT researches injected groups of rats afflicted by a trait that causes them to lose their sight. . In one experiment using an NIH-approved cell line, rats which received HES-derived RPE cells showed a 50 percent improvement in visual performance over a control group which received cell culture medium alone, and a 100 percent improvement over untreated controls. Fifteen of the stem cell lines used in the research came from embryos donated by women who recently completed fertility treatments. ACT, based in Alameda, CA, has research offices in Worcester.

AMCI forges partnership

SOUTHBORO – ACMI Corp. has partnered with Conceptus Inc. to offer each other’s products to gynecologists for female sterilization procedures. Conceptus makes Essure, a device that allows a doctor to permanently block a woman’s fallopian tubes without making an incision. ACMI makes the SlimLine, a device that can be used to see inside the uterus and fallopian tubes. The two companies say the partnership should increase the number of procedures that are available in a doctor’s office rather than a hospital, which should allow for more office-based insurance reimbursements.

Caliper debuts two new products

HOPKINTON – Caliper Life Sciences Inc. has launched two new automated screening systems that it says will help cut research costs and time. One, called the Zephyr, is a benchtop system designed to handle liquid reagents. The other, called a Desktop profiler, is a enzyme-profiling device that the company says is 50 percent cheaper than outsourcing samples. Kinase regulates transmissions of signals within cells. The Desktop Profiler will be available in November; no release date for the Zephyr has been given.

Finance/Insurance

Commerce eyeing deal with National Atlantic

WEBSTER - Commerce Group Inc. disclosed in a regulatory filing that it is evaluating a potential transaction with New Jersey-based National Atlantic Holdings Corp. Possibilities include Commerce’s acquisition of National Atlantic. Commerce already owns 923,584 shares, or 8.2 percent, of National Atlantic, the 10th-largest insurer in New Jersey with $198 million in direct written premiums in 2005. National Atlantic, the holding company for The Proformance Insurance Co., states that it’s in preliminary discussions with Commerce and has retained Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking as advisers.

Health care

Hubbard Hospital seeking partnership

WEBSTER - Hubbard Regional Hospital is considering a financial partner by early next year. A partnership would bring capital investment money to the hospital to help with priorities such as a new emergency room. The hospital has sent out a request for proposals and would like to have a partnership in place by late December or early January. Two years ago, the hospital’s board of directors attempted to sell the hospital and its land to a developer to raise cash to pay off debts, but a citizens’ group opposing the move successfully prevented the deal. Hubbard Hospital has improved its financial position from a $1.8 million deficit in 2004 to a $1.2 million surplus last year, and has added new equipment this year.

MNA nurses vote to strike at UMass

WORCESTER - A majority of nurses at UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University Campus who are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association authorized a strike in a vote taken Sept. 27. A total of 762 nurses out of the 830 eligible to vote participated, with 716 of them voting "yes" on the strike measure. The vote follows nine months of unsuccessful talks over contract renewal. The hospital maintains that its $85-million, unfunded pension liability is causing concern among credit agencies, and says the hospital has struggled financially during its fiscal year which ended Sept. 30. Meanwhile, nurses represented by the MNA have disputed the hospital’s demands for concessions on pensions, health benefits, wages, paid days off, and layoffs. The hospital has arranged to bring in replacements should a strike be called. MNA spokesman David Schildmeier told the Telegram & Gazette that management had initially come to the table with 50 concessions and withdrew only 15 of them.

UMass Memorial Health Care signs supply chain contract

WORCESTER – UMass Memorial Health Care Inc. has signed a five-year contract with Dallas-based Broadlane, which will now oversee the hospital chain’s purchasing and supply chain of equipment and services. UMass Memorial is the region’s largest health care system, comprising five acute care hospitals and a number of other facilities. Broadlane provides its expertise and technology to oversee supply contracts, purchasing and information management to thousands of acute care hospitals and medical facilities nationwide.

High tech

EMC acquires Network Intelligence

HOPKINTON- EMC Corp. has acquired Westwood-based Network Intelligence Corp., a privately held security information technology firm, for $175 million, or about $28 per share. The majority of Network Intelligence’s 120 employees will be retained for the short term. This deal followed on the heels of EMC’s $2.1-billion purchase of RSA Security Inc., a Bedford-based e-mail encryption software maker.

Central Mass. Cos. Receive state training grants

NEWTON- More than $1.53 million in Workforce Training Grants from the state Department of Workforce Development will be awarded to 22 Central Massachusetts companies. The Central Massachusetts companies and their grant amounts are: Quabbin Valley Convalescent Center, Athol, $121,174; Catania Spagna Corp., Ayer, $30,980; Cycles Inc., Sterling, $137,450; F&D Plastics Inc., Leominster, $32,900; TRW Automotive US LLC, Westminster, $218,275; Fiberoptic Components Inc., Sterling, $43,616; Fort James Operating Co., Leominster, $29,150; Guardian Webster Inc., Webster, $50,000; I-C Credit Union, Fitchburg, $34,273; Incom Inc., Charlton, $126,000; Leo P. Lachance Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing, Gardner, $31,395; Mar-Lee Cos., Fitchburg, $184,166; Montachusett Opportunity Council, Fitchburg, $14,800; Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, $24,750; Ryszand A. Kokosinski, Dudley, $38,640; Southbridge Credit Union, Southbridge, $48,160; Spencer Savings Bank, Spencer, $89,230; Worcester Envelope Co., Worcester, $70,518; Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, $81,900; Intel Massachusetts Inc., Hudson, $125,540; Marlboro Co-operative Bank, Marlboro, $19,000; and Mass. Container Corp., Marlboro. The fund awards matching grants to businesses that finance job-related training for incumbent employees. The state awarded a total of $8.6 million to 109 companies.

FitSense releases wireless health tracking device

SOUTHBORO – FitSense Technology Inc. has released a wireless device that can be used to transmit personal health data from medical equipment like glucose meters, scales and activity monitors. Called the Universal Body Lan Module (UBM), the device transmits information from the equipment when it comes near an ActiHealth enabled device like a modem, computer or cell phone. Users of ActiHealth – FitSense’s network of health-monitoring devices - can then check their results using a computer or other device. The UBM represents a new step forward because it uses far less power than comparable Bluetooth or Zigbee wireless devices, the company says.

Manufacturing

Three regional printers merge

GARDNER- Reservoir Printing in Marlboro and Westboro-based Apex Press Inc. have been acquired by the president and owner of Pendleton Printers, Douglas Pendleton. The new company will be named Synergy Graphic Solutions. Financial terms weren’t disclosed, but the majority of employees will be retained and the company will be housed at Reservoir’s plant at 257 Simarano Drive in Marlboro, where Pendleton and Apex are moving their operations. The new company will have combined sales of about $4.5 million.

Union Products shuts down

LEOMINSTER - Union Products Inc., maker of plastic lawn flamingoes, will be shutting down on Nov. 1. Citing rising costs for energy and plastic resins, the 50 year old company, perhaps most famous for the pink plastic flamingos, stopped manufacturing operations in June and laid off 30 full-time workers. The company is also in the process of selling its assets to pay debt. There are no immediate plans to file for bankruptcy. Union Products says several companies have expressed an interest in purchasing the machinery molds for the pink flamingo lawn ornament.

Utilities

Utilities file natural gas rates

BOSTON - Natural gas customers can expect to see either a drop in gas prices or a rise depending on which company provides service. While NStar expects to see a drop in natural gas prices, customers of KeySpan can expect a 5.4 percent increase in the price of natural gas this winter. Keyspan points the increase to an abundance of natural gas it purchased last year when wholsesale prices were on the rise. KeySpan, which services 900,000 customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, is seeking approval for a rate of $1.37 per therm, compared to an average of $1.30 per therm for last year - an average monthly increase of $15. NStar’s proposed rate adjustment for its 300,000 gas customers would result in an average decrease of $38 a month for its residential customers.

Retail

Bertucci’s buys 11 Vinny T’s restaurants

NORTHBORO - Bertucci Corp. has bought 11 Vinny T’s restaurants from Minneapolis-based Buca Inc. for $6.8 million, including eight in the Boston area. Bertucci’s will continue to manage its 92 Bertucci’s Brick Oven Ristorante locations separately from the Vinny T’s of Boston facilities. Buca reported that $3 million of the sale price is cash and $3.8 million is to be paid through a promissory note. It will use the proceeds to reduce debt. The restaurants sold include the Shrewsbury restaurant on the shores of Lake Quinsigamond.

Small business SBA offers flood loans

WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. Small Business Administration will offer loans of up to $1.5 million to Central Mass. farm suppliers whose businesses were affected by this spring’s flooding. The loans, known as Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), have been made available to businesses like feed and seed stores which supply farmers, but not to farmers or ranchers themselves. The move follows a similar decision earlier this year by the Secretary of Agriculture to offer assistance to farmers for flood damage. The loans carry a 4 percent interest rate and a term up to 30 years. Details are available on the SBA website.

Some of the material in the News Briefs and Small Business sections was originally reported by Banker & Tradesman, The Boston Business Journal, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, The Clinton Courier and Lancaster Times, The Griffin Report of Food Marketing, IndUS Business Journal, Mass High Tech, The MetroWest Daily News, New England Real Estate Journal, Sentinel & Enterprise, Southbridge Evening News, Telegram & Gazette, and/or Worcester Magazine. If you have a news tip, please call 508-755-8004 ext. 256, fax it to 508-755-4734, or e-mail it to coneill@wbjournal.com.