Business Briefly: Bothell firm wins $30,000 for research
Published 10:40 pm Monday, July 7, 2008
EKOS Corp. of Bothell has received $30,000 for research and development work from the Washington Technology Center. The medical device company is teamed with the University of Washington Department of Chemical Engineering to improve EKOS’ catheter-based drug-delivery system. Each year, the Washington Technology Center awards about $1 million in state funding to advance collaborations between companies and research institutions.
Boeing supplier takes Airbus job
Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier to the Boeing Co., signed an agreement to design and supply Airbus with the wing leading edge for its A350 XWB jet. The A350 XWB will compete with Boeing’s larger 787 and its 777 family of jets. Spirit is a partner on Boeing’s mostly-composite-material 787 Dreamliner. Spirit previously announced an agreement with Airbus to supply the mostly-composite center fuselage for the A350.
Microsoft aids Yahoo board ouster
Microsoft Corp. threw its weight behind investor Carl Icahn’s effort to oust Yahoo Inc.’s board next month, saying Monday that a successful rebellion would encourage the software maker to renew its takeover bid for Yahoo or negotiate another multibillion-dollar deal. The development gives Icahn a huge carrot to dangle before Yahoo shareholders as he wages a campaign to oust Yahoo’s nine directors at the company’s annual meeting Aug. 1. Microsoft’s support of Icahn also intensifies the pressure on Yahoo co-founder and Chief Executive Jerry Yang, whose handling of the negotiations with Microsoft infuriated many shareholders.
Gas prices remained smaller
The AAA auto club says the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Washington has dipped four-tenths of a cent, but it still averages $4.35. While Monday’s price is about the same as Sunday’s, it’s 14 cents higher than a month ago, $1.29 higher than a year ago in the state and 24 cents higher than the national average. The AAA says the average price of a gallon of diesel in the state is $4.92. That’s up three cents in the past month and $1.91 in the past year.
Penney’s adds Dorm Life label
J.C. Penney Co. is launching a new private-label brand called Dorm Life, a line of home goods aimed at young adults leaving the nest. The department store company said Monday that the line was designed in-house. That’s a contrast with Penney’s ambitious launch earlier this year of American Living, which was designed by Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. Dorm Life includes bedding, bath items, furniture and accessories.
Alaska Air forms partnership
Alaska Airlines is entering into a partnership with the regional carrier Frontier Alaska. Starting this fall, Frontier Alaska passengers will be able to book through Alaska Airlines and redeem miles in its mileage plan. Frontier Alaska serves 92 destinations, from commuter and postal service operations for Fairbanks and Anchorage to the state’s bush communities.
From Herald staff and news services
