Bothell-based Cardiac Science Corp. posted a second-quarter loss of $2.1 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with profit of $2.3 million, or 10 cents per share, during the same period a year ago. The company, which makes automated defibrillator and heart monitoring devices, said part of the loss stemmed from a decision to withhold delivery of $3 million worth defibrillators that didn’t meet inspections. Deliveries have since resumed. “We voluntarily stopped shipping AEDs in late June in order to evaluate a potential component issue,” said CEO Dave Marver. “We will continue to evaluate the possible impact of the component issue on units in the field and whether it may be appropriate to take corrective action.”
Facebook buys Web’s FriendFeed
Facebook has purchased FriendFeed, a Web service that gives users a view of what their friends are doing on all sorts of social media sites. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Facebook said Monday that the 12 employees of Mountain View, Calif.-based FriendFeed will work for Facebook. The service’s four founders — Paul Buchheit, Jim Norris, Bret Taylor and Sanjeev Singh — will take on senior positions on the engineering and product teams at Facebook. It’s unclear what exactly Facebook plans to do with this latest acquisition. Facebook says that FriendFeed.com will keep operating normally for now as the companies decide plans for the longer term. In a statement, Buchheit said the group is “extremely excited” to work with Facebook.
McDonald’s sales continue to climb
McDonald’s Corp. said Monday its same-store sales climbed 4.3 percent in July, as the nation’s biggest hamburger chain benefited from budget-conscious consumers and wide promotion of new coffee drinks. The Oak Brook, Ill., company said U.S. same-store sales climbed 2.6 percent because of new products, including McCafe espresso-based coffee. European same-store sales surged 7.2 percent, helped by growth in France and the U.K. Same-store sales for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa rose 2.1 percent.
Barnes &Noble to buy text business
Bookseller Barnes &Noble Inc. said Monday it will buy Barnes &Noble College Booksellers from its chairman in a deal worth $596 million. The deal will cost Barnes &Noble $460 million after accounting for College’s cash on hand at the expected closing date. The purchase will boost full-year earnings, reunite Barnes &Noble’s brand and eliminate annual royalty payments for online textbook sales. The deal also gives Barnes &Noble a business that’s growing. College Booksellers saw same-store sales growth of 1 percent in its 2009 fiscal year, which ended May 2. That compares with a 5.7 percent decline in same-store sales for Barnes &Noble in its first quarter, which also ended May 2.
From Herald staff and news services
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
