When State Farm announced earlier this year it would realign the local markets it uses to establish labor rates it said the effort might impact prevailing competitive prices paid to collision repair centers. We surveyed repairers to gauge the impact on labor rates and allowances. In July, State Farm announced it was realigning its traditional […]
IIHS Awards 48 Vehicles with Crash Prevention Systems as Top Safety Pick+
The 48 winners of the “plus” award have a superior- or advanced-rated front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities. One vehicle has a base price of just $16,000. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced that nearly 50 vehicles meet the tougher criteria for 2016 to take home the IIHS’ TOP SAFETY PICK+ […]
Kennealy Acquires Las Vegas Collision Repair Center
Dennis Kennealy, longtime industry veteran, recently acquired Collision Masters – Las Vegas. Kennealy and Las Vegas collision shop owner, Bob Dresser have teamed up to own and operate the first of a planned 2-5 collision repair facilities centered in the Greater Las Vegas market that will operate under the Collision Masters brand. After years of […]
Small Business Optimism Collapses in November after Three Stagnant Months
NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dropped 1.3 points to 94.8 The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Index of Small Business Optimism fell 1.3 points in November, dropping the Index to 94.8, this after three months of no change of any significance. The index remains well below its 42 year average signaling a a “plodding” […]
Last Call for Most Influential Women Award Nominations
Nominations for the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) prestigious Most Influential Women Awards close on Thursday, December 31. The winners will be recognized at a Most Influential Women gala held during the 2016 WIN Educational Conference, May 2-4, 2016 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown in Tampa, Fla. Nominations of women working in any segment of the […]
Christopher Iu Named Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced the appointment of Christopher Iu to be the state’s Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, replacing Ron Chillemi. Iu, 37, joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2011, serving first as Special Assistant and later as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Attorney General. Chillemi is going to work this week […]
NHTSA Includes Crash Avoidance Rankings in Proposed Upgrades to its 5-Star Safety Ratings
Plans include a new crash test, new dummies, as well as crash-avoidance system ratings to the government’s vehicle safety ranking program. The U.S. Department of Transportation today proposed high-tech changes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-Star Safety Rating program for new vehicles. The planned changes will improve on the well-known safety ratings […]
Solera Stockholders Approve Sale to Vista Equity Partners
Solera Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLH) announced that Solera shareholders voted to adopt the merger agreement announced in September for the company’s sales to an affiliate of Vista Equity Partners for $55.85 per share in cash. The merger was approved by a vote of nearly 44 million shares to 7.3 million against the proposal. A separate […]
Carlyle Group Completes Acquisition of Innovation Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) last week announced the successful acquisition of Innovation Group (LON: TIG) for £500 million ($689 million). Originally announced in September, capital for the acquistion came from Carlyle Europe Partners IV (CEP IV), a European-focused upper-mid market buyout fund. Further terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1996 and […]
AASP-MN Announces Annual Meeting, Leadership Conference in April
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) announced its Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference will be held April 14, 2016, at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 1330 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis, Minn. This year’s event, with a theme to “Lead the Way,” offers a line-up of seminars that are specifically geared for mechanical and collision […]