The International Trade Administration (ITA) is amending its preliminary affirmative antidumping (AD) duty determination on certain artist canvas from China as: (1) it inadvertently stated an inaccurate producer name for one exporter/producer combination rate, and (2) it inadvertently failed to include one combination rate in its November 2005 preliminary affirmative AD duty determination.
Having shifted from selling stores to buying them, Rent-Way is weighing acquisition of chains of 5-20 stores in early 2006, CEO William Short told analysts in an earnings conference. Rent-Way has had preliminary discussions with several chains, most operating in its markets, CFO William McDonnell told us. “The environment for opportunities out there is something we're going to pursue aggressively in 2006,” Short said. Most of the chains available would cost less than 10 times monthly revenue, company officials said. Rent-Way has made some purchases the past 90 days, including 12 stores from Rent- a-Center, which is closing some outlets. If Rent-Way succeeds in buying some dealers, it will likely reduce new store openings planned for 2006, McDonnell said. The sales are being driven retailers battling effects of the hurricanes and high gas prices, McDonnell said. For Rent- Way, a buying binge represents a sharp change. The chain had an accounting scandal in 2000-2001 and sold more than 200 of its stores to RAC. Meanwhile, Rent-Way posted an increase in 4th-quarter net income to $4.3 million from $3.8 million a year earlier, as it benefited from a $9 million adjustment tied to a conversion feature of the chain’s preferred stock. The adjustment helped offset losses tied to the hurricanes ($1.9 million) and a $2.2 million write-off of jewelry receivables tied to switching vendors, the company said. Revenue rose to $125 million from $121.3 million on a 1.4% gain in same-store sales. Sales fell short of Rent-Way’s projections for revenue of $125-$128 million due largely to the hurricanes. Rental revenue jumped to $104.5 million from $100.7 million, while revenue from prepaid phone business dpi Teleconnect declined to $3.7 million from $5.2 million. Rent-Way benefited from strong sales of DLP-based rear projection TVs -- offsetting a decline in CRT-products, which are a “diminishing” portion of the chain’s revenues, McDonnell said Rent-Way carries rear projection TV from Mitsubishi and Philips, among others.
In its 4th week available, EA’s Need For Speed: Most Wanted for PS2 was again the top-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak’s preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended Dec. 11. EA had 3 other SKUs in the top 10: Madden NFL 06 for PS2 at #2 (up 7 in its 18th week), the Xbox version of Most Wanted at #4 (down 2 in its 4th week) and NCAA Football 06 for PS2 at #7 (up 11 in its 22nd week). Activision had 2 games in the top 10, both for PS2: Tony Hawk’s American Wastleand at #6 (up 11 in its 8th week) and Call of Duty 2: Big Red One at #8 (up 4 in its 6th week).
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the final results of its second administrative reviews of the antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders on certain softwood lumber products from Canada.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of stainless steel plate in coils from Belgium for the period of May 1, 2003 through April 30, 2004.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty administrative reviews:
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a press release on its preliminary negative antidumping (AD) injury determination, stating that the U.S. industry is neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of liquid sulfur dioxide from Canada that are allegedly sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.
In its 2nd week available, Need for Speed Most Wanted from Electronic Arts (EA) was again the #1-selling game in the U.K., according to Chart Track data by the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Assn. for the week ended Dec. 3. The title’s success was likely driven at least in part by the Xbox 360 SKU becoming available in time for the console’s European launch Dec. 2. Two other titles with Xbox 360 SKUs were in the top 10: EA’s FIFA 06 at #3 (up one) and Ubisoft’s Peter Jackson’s King Kong at #8 (up 4). There was no new game in the top 10… Activision’s Call of Duty 2 became the top-selling PC game in the U.S. in the week ended Nov. 26, moving up 2 notches from the previous week, according to NPD Group data. Microsoft’s Age of Empires III -- the previous week’s top seller -- fell to #6… The PS2 version of EA’s Need for Speed Most Wanted, in its 3rd week, was again the top-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak’s preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended Dec. 4. The Xbox version moved up one to #2.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated antidumping (AD) duty investigations on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from Germany, Turkey, and China.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a press release announcing the final results of the second antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) administrative reviews for entries of certain softwood lumber from Canada for the review periods of May 1, 2003 through April 30, 2004 (AD) and April 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004 (CV).