Formica continues wages, warranties

        The U.S. Bankruptcy judge overseeing Formica Corp.'s Chapter 11 reorganization has approved paying pre-filing wages and benefits to employees and continuing the company's warranties and other consumer programs.

        The decorative-laminate maker, which employs 660 in Evendale, sought protection from creditors Tuesday in New York City because of the burden of debts totaling more than $500 million.
       

Shire Richwood going to Newport

        Shire Richwood Inc. plans to lease an 85,000-square-foot office at One Riverfront Place in Newport.

        The pharmaceutical company strongly considered moving to a downtown Cincinnati building at 302 W. Third St. but ultimately chose Newport because of Kentucky's more favorable tax structure, Bo Bandura of the real estate firm Staubach Co. said.

        Shire has signed a letter of intent for the Newport office and plans to relocate this summer from a smaller office in Florence.
       

FirstGroup unit wins contract

        Cincinnati-based FirstGroup Inc. Wednesday said its Canadian division, FirstBus Canada Limited, has been awarded a contract to supply wheelchair-accessible public transportation to the city of Ottawa.

        FirstGroup's transit division, First Transit, provides public transportation on a contract basis to 70 cities and school systems in 30 states.

        The Ottawa contract will require the company to provide door-to-door service for those unable to access the city's normal public transit systems.
       

P&G gives $1M to UNCF program

        Procter & Gamble Co. has pledged $1 million to a capital campaign to promote school technologies at the United Negro College Fund. The P&G Fund made the pledge to the Technology Enhancement Capital Campaign, which will modernize technology platforms at the 39 UNCF schools.

— From staff reports

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