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Closures & Layoffs (Feb. 8-14)

A Weekly Report on Future Corporate Downsizings
February 11, 2009
Download these layoffs, closures and downsizings and all of the stories in the Watch List Newsletter here. The Adobe pdf version also includes all of this week’s leads of distressed properties and loans of concern, and CoStar PI and all of its stories on property and loan investments, leads on properties under contract, lenders and lists of loans approaching their maturity date. In addition, the pdf version contains bonus news items not found in these columns or the CoStar Group web news pages.

Nationwide
  • Bashas' Supermarkets, the Chandler, AZ-based operator of AJ's and Food City grocery stores laid off about 350 full- and part-time workers statewide. The layoffs represent less than 3% of the firm's total workforce and were spread throughout the grocer's operations, including administrative offices, distribution centers and its network of retail stores.

  • Brooks Automation Inc. based in Chelmsford, MA, is in the process of restructuring its operations. Brooks will be combining its formerly separate vacuum pump and robotic product groups into a single Critical Solutions Group. This move will simplify the company's organizational structure, reduce facility and overhead requirements and more effectively leverage the overall capabilities of the two Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based groups. The company expects to eliminate approximately 350 additional positions which will reduce the global workforce by about 20%. In the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008, Brooks reduced headcount by about 10% in response.

  • EntreMed Inc. entered into a lease amendment with its landlord, Red Gate III LLC, for its headquarters at 9460 Medical Center Drive in Rockville, Md. The material terms of the amendment include a reduction in the space occupied by the company from 46,267 square feet to 8,554 square feet and a 12-month extension to Feb. 28, 2010. The company's monthly rent has been reduced from approximately $85,000 to $16,288. The Lease Amendment also provides that the company may use other portions of the premises at no additional cost.

  • Ferro Corp. based in Cleveland, OH, is eliminating about 700 positions around the world, which would reduce total employment by approximately 12%. It also continues to consider additional staff reductions.

  • Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Inc. based in San Diego, CA, is implementing an aggressive cost-cutting plan. The company is reducing its workforce by approximately 33%, or 20 employees, as well as freezing salaries and suspending bonuses for all company employees, including the company's executive officers.

  • King Pharmaceuticals Inc. based in Bristol, TN, announced restructuring and workforce reduction initiatives arising from its recent acquisition of Alpharma Inc. The actions will result in a total workforce reduction of approximately 22% or approximately 760 positions. Approximately 240 of these reductions are corporate positions associated with synergies from the Alpharma acquisition. Of the other 520 approximately 380 are field sales positions and approximately 140 are corporate positions.

  • Liz Claiborne Inc. is implementing additional cost reduction initiatives, including the elimination of approximately 725 positions or 8% of its U.S. workforce, the previously reported closing of its distribution center in Mt. Pocono, PA and the suspension of merit pay increases for all employees. Since 2007, the New York-based company has closed six distribution centers, eliminated about 2,200 global staff positions, and streamlined its brand portfolio by selling, closing or licensing 14 of its brands.

  • Magma Design Automation Inc., a San Jose-based provider of chip design software, announced a series of actions designed to reduce operating costs, including a 17% cut in worldwide employment, salary reductions and consolidation of some facilities.

  • Panasonic is cutting 15,000 jobs or 5% of its 300,000 workforce. Panasonic is shutting 27 manufacturing sites around the world in a drive to cuts costs and adjust output.

  • Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack, the Philadelphia-based auto parts retailer, will implement approximately $20.1 million in pre-tax cost reduction initiatives. These initiatives include the elimination of approximately 50 positions, representing 11% of the store support workforce.

  • Pier 1 Imports Inc. based in Fort Worth, TX, has begun negotiating with landlords to achieve rental reductions across the chain. These negotiations may lead to the execution of early termination agreements for up to 125 underperforming store locations, if rental reduction negotiations on those locations prove unsuccessful. The company has engaged an outside firm, DJM Realty, to assist in completing these negotiations by the end of May 2009.

  • Rogers Corp. based in Rogers, CT, announced a cost reduction initiative that includes a workforce reduction that combines both voluntary and involuntary terminations and will affect about 200 of its salaried staffing worldwide or about 10%. In addition to the workforce reduction, the company is freezing salaries, and significantly reducing other operating and overhead expenses.


    • Local
    Company Address City, State Closure or Layoff No. of People Affected Date of Impact
    ON Semiconductor Corp. (wafer fabrication facility) 5005 E McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ closure 350 3/31/2010
    Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Inc. 4435 Eastgate Mall, Suite 400 San Diego, CA layoff 20 immediately
    Pacific Sunwear of California, 3450 E Miraloma Ave Anaheim, CA layoff 47 unknown
    Ferro Corp. Toccoa, GA closure unknown immediately
    Navistar International Corp. (truck plant) 5565 Brookville Road Indianapolis, IN closure unknown 7/31/2009
    Acument Global Technologies 2480 Owen Road Fenton, MI closure 105 unknown
    Bridgewater Interiors Inc. corner of Mount Hope Highway and Canal Road Lansing, MI layoff 130 unknown
    Cliffs Natural Resources Ishpeming, MI layoff 72 unknown
    Coca Cola Enterprises Inc. 100 Coca Cola Drive Auburn Hills, MI closure 127 unknown
    Dott Manufacturing 3768 Main St. Deckerville, MI closure 170 unknown
    GM - Lansing Delta Township Lansing, MI layoff 1246 unknown
    International Paper 1450 Mcpherson Park Drive Howell, MI closure 101 unknown
    Office Depot 909 N. Sheldon Road, Suite 3 Plymouth, MI closure 20 unknown
    Pittsburgh Glass Works 6251 S. Lauman Road Evart, MI closure 160 unknown
    Steelcase 4360 52nd St. SE Kentwood, MI closure 150 unknown
    Steelcase (Grand Rapids Wood Plant) 4100 68th St. SE Caledonia, MI closure 150 unknown
    Summit Polymers Inc. 4750 Executive Drive Portage, MI closure 215 unknown
    Wellington-Almont LLC 3776 Van Dyke Road Almont, MI closure 108 unknown
    Ecolab 386 Wabasha St. N St. Paul, MN unknown unknown unknown
    Herff Jones 135 Rice St. Lewiston, MN unknown 180 unknown
    Home Depot New Hope, MN unknown 70 unknown
    Le Sueur Inc. 1409 Vine St. Le Sueur, MN unknown 110 unknown
    Macy's 1100 Brookdale Center Brooklyn Center, MN unknown 124 unknown
    Select Comfort 9800 59th Ave. North Minneapolis, MN unknown unknown unknown
    Target HQ 1000 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, MN unknown 480 unknown
    Team Industries 105 Park Ave. NW; 4th & Robin streets; 501 Industrial Park Road Bagley; Audubon; Park Rapids, MN unknown 102 unknown
    Thermo Fisher Scientific 501 90th Ave. NW Maple Plain, MN unknown 70 unknown
    Wilson Tool 12912 Farnham Ave. N White Bear Lake, MN unknown 58 unknown
    Zomax 7601 Setzler Parkway Brooklyn Park, MN unknown 41 unknown
    ATC Drivetrain dba Aaron's Automotive 2707 N. Farm Road 123 Springfield, MO closure 184 2/7/2009
    Celebration City 1383 Highway 376 Branson, MO closure 228 4/1/2009
    Fasco 1401 E. North St. Eldon, MO closure 422 2/8/2009
    GE Energy 814 Holbrook Drive Salisbury, MO closure 70 3/16/2009
    Havco Wood Products LLC 3200 Havco Drive Scott City, MO layoff 111 3/2/2009
    Laird Technologies 3481 Rider Trail South St. Louis, MO layoff 37 9/1/2009
    Wyndham Vacation Ownership 1839 E. Independence St. Springfield, MO closure 210 2/17/2009
    Celebrate Express 488 Gallimore Dairy Road Greensboro, NC closure 182 5/1/2009
    Iqor Inc. 3200 Northline Ave., Suite 135 Greensboro, NC closure 73 2/28/2009
    RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road Greensboro, NC closure 150 2/28/2009
    Alcan Baltek 108 Fairway Court Northvale, NJ unknown 70 4/23/2009
    Apex Express Inc 418 Duncan Ave. Jersey City, NJ unknown 110 3/5/2009
    BMW of North America 300 International Drive Mt Olive, NJ unknown 10 3/31/2009
    Book-Mart Press 2001 42nd St. N. Bergen, NJ unknown 72 3/13/2009
    DSNJ 725 Airport Road, Unit 7G Lakewood, NJ unknown 161 3/7/2009
    Griffin Pipe 1100 W. Front St. Florence, NJ unknown 200 2/27/2009
    ITT Systems Division Ft. Dix, NJ unknown 83 3/28/2009
    King Pharmaceuticals 400 Crossing Blvd. Bridgewater, NJ unknown 71 3/29/2009
    Marriott Galloway, NJ unknown 66 2/13/2009
    Marriott 405 White Horse Pike Absecon, NJ unknown 68 2/13/2009
    Motorola Inc. 1111 Durham Ave. S. Plainfield, NJ unknown 50 3/27/2009
    MW Manufacturers 999 Grand St. South Hammonton, NJ unknown 212 3/20/2009
    Nielson & Bainbridge 17 S. Middlesex Ave. Monroe Twp., NJ unknown 105 3/11/2009
    Pliva Inc. 72 Eagle Rock Ave. East Hanover, NJ unknown 120 4/27/2009
    Press Relay Newark, NJ unknown 101 3/11/2009
    Roadway Express 61 Edgeboro Road E. Brunswick, NJ unknown 72 3/1/2009
    Ryder Integrated Logistics 50 Radel Ave. Ledgewood, NJ unknown 100 4/3/2009
    Siemens Building Technologies 8 Fernwood Road Florham Park, NJ unknown 153 3/9/2009
    Viking Yacht Company 5738 Route 9 New Gretna, NJ unknown 541 3/31/2009
    Bank of America New York, NY layoff 371 4/7/2009
    Caldwell Manufacturing Company 2605 Manitou Road Rochester, NY closure 28 4/17/2009
    CAMBA (Homelessness Prevention Program) Brooklyn, NY closure 26 4/1/2009
    General Motors Corp., Powertrain Division 56 Chevrolet Road Massena, NY closure 100 5/4/2009
    IBM - Hudson Valley Research Park 2070 State Route 52 Hopewell Junction, NY layoff 274 4/27/2009
    King Kullen Grocery Co. Inc. Staten Island, NY closure 118 2/26/2009
    Kmart Corporation Store #9597 329 Glenmont Road, Suite 14 Glenmont, NY closure 90 3/29/2009
    Magazine Distributors Inc. 120 Adams Blvd. East Farmingdale, NY layoff 32 5/1/2009
    NBC Universal (NBC Studios) 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY closure 60 2/21/2009
    NYSE Alternext USA LLC 86 Trinity Place New York, NY layoff 142 4/1/2009
    Playboy Enterprises Inc. 730 5th Ave New York, NY closure 51 5/1/2009
    Precision Valve Corporation 700 Nepperhan Ave. Yonkers, NY closure 188 5/31/2009
    Rite Aid-Genovese Drugstores Inc. distribution center Bohemia, NY closure 60 5/15/2009
    Sodexo Inc - Taylor Care Center @ Westchester Medical Center 25 Bradhurst Ave. East Meadow, NY closure 45 3/31/2009
    Syracuse China Company a subsidiary of Libbey Inc. 2801 Court St. Syracuse, NY closure 280 4/9/2009
    Taylor Care Center in Westchester Medical Center 25 Bradhurst Ave. Hawthorne, NY closure 171 4/1/2009
    TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA Congers, NY closure 155 4/27/2009
    The Hillman Group Inc. (Distribution Facility) 70 Cohoes Ave. Green Island, NY closure 30 3/31/2009
    The Northern Trust Company New York, NY layoff 37 4/27/2009
    Virgin Entertainment Group New York, NY closure 204 4/14/2009
    Voltaic LLC dba Ampergen Mount Kisco, NY closure 52 4/30/2009
    Shorewood Packaging 500 International Way Springfield, OR closure 15 2/27/2009
    Liz Claiborne Inc. 1 Liz Way Mt. Pocono, PA closure unknown immediately
    Acuity Brands Lighting 2011 W. Rundberg Lane Austin, TX closure 35 5/31/2009
    Avnet Logistics 2200 William D. Tate Ave. Grapevine, TX closure 366 9/1/2010
    Bowne 2134 French Settlement Road Dallas, TX closure 66 2/2/2009
    Cargill Meat Solutions Co. various turkey breeder facilities Hico, Meridian, Iredell, Clifton, Cranfills, Gap, and Jonesboro, TX closure unknown by 2/13/2010
    Delsite 1505 Walnut Hill Lane Irving, TX layoff unknown immediately
    Exel Inc. 4801 Westport Parkway Fort Worth, TX closure 86 3/26/2009
    Flint Hill Resources LP 2505 S. Grandview Odessa, TX closure 112 3/25/2009
    Ford Motor Credit (Business Center) 3660 Regent Blvd. Irving, TX closure 185 6/30/2009
    Home Depot Bath and Remodeling Inc. 3010 Skyway Circle N. Irving, TX closure 68 4/1/2009
    Kantar Operations Data Collection Call Center 5277 Old Brownsville Road, Suite 110 Corpus Christi, TX closure 87 6/28/2009
    Michaels Stores Inc. 8000 Bent Branch Drive Irving, TX layoff 100+ 3/27/2009
    Shrincrs Hospitals for Children 815 Market St. Galveston, TX closure 354 3/31/2009
    Texas Instruments Inc. 12500, 13000 TI Blvd., 7800 Banner Drive & 7830 Churchill Way Dallas, TX layoff 953 3/28/2009
    Virbac Corp. 3200 Meacham Blvd. Fort Worth, TX closure 44 9/1/2009
    Allied Waste (Rabanco Ltd) 54 S. Dawson St. Seattle, WA layoff 203 3/31/2009
    Pacific Veneer - Weyerhaeuser 100 N. Decatur St. Aberdeen, WA closure 93 1/26/2009
    Philips Electronics North America (Supply Chain Solution Center) 2820 B Street NW, Suite 101 Auburn, WA closure 96 3/20/2009
    Qwest - Customer Financial Services Center 1600 7th Ave. Seattle, WA closure 235 4/15/2009
    SolarWorld Industries Services Inc. 12016 NE 95th St. Vancouver, WA layoff 63 4/24/2009
    The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 101 Elliot Ave. West Seattle, WA closure 181 3/18/2009
    Weyerhaeuser Aberdeen Sawmill 500 N. Custer St. Aberdeen, WA closure 128 1/26/2009
    Abraham & Sons 7500 N. 81st St. Milwaukee, WI closure 67 4/10/2009
    Borg Indak Inc. 701 Enterprise Drive Delavan, WI layoff 31 immediately
    Conserve School 5400 N. Black Lake Road Land O' Lakes, WI layoff 32 6/30/2009
    Cub Foods 20 Park Ave. Beloit, WI closure 71 3/13/2009
    Cub Foods 1616 W. Mason St. Green Bay, WI closure 81 3/13/2009
    Cub Foods 2280 E. Mason St. Green Bay, WI closure 97 3/13/2009
    Cub Foods 4716 Verona Road Madison, WI closure 70 3/13/2009
    Cummins Emissions Solutions 431 Division St. Wautoma, WI closure 178 3/22/2009
    Dickens Books Ltd., (Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops) 4093 N. Oakland Ave. Shorewood, WI closure 20 3/31/2009
    Dickens Books Ltd., (Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops) 17145-D W. Blue Mound Road Brookfield, WI closure 12 3/31/2009
    Dickens Books Ltd., (Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops) 2559 N. Downer Ave. Milwaukee, WI closure 12 3/31/2009
    Dickens Books Ltd., (Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops) 10976 N. Port Washington Road Mequon, WI closure 15 3/31/2009
    EMD Chemicals 441 Charmany Drive Madison, WI closure 63 3/31/2009
    Henschue Construction 313 W. Beltline Hwy, Suite 200 Madison, WI closure 66 3/30/2009
    JL French Automotive Castings Inc. 3101 S. Taylor Drive and 4243 Gateway Drive Sheboygan, WI layoff 297 2/13/2009
    Pacal Industries 400 Car St. La Crosse, WI layoff 96 2/13/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group ACE Hardware 503 Lake Ave. West Ladysmith, WI closure 50 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group ACE Hardware 4242 Mormom Coulee Road La Crosse, WI closure 54 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group Appliance Warehouse 3930 130th St. Chippewa Falls, WI closure 13 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group County Market 400 W. 9th St. Ladysmith, WI closure 117 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group FS Store 3805 Oakwood Mall Drive Eau Claire, WI closure 11 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group IGA 522 Bridge St. Cornell, WI closure 38 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group Rainbow Home Center 1124 Hammond Ave. Rice Lake, WI closure 65 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group Reinhart Real Estate Group 201 Main St., Suite 800 La Crosse, WI closure 9 3/29/2009
    Reinhart Retail Group Reinhart Real Estate Group 128-1/2 Graham Ave. Eau Claire, WI closure 6 3/29/2009
    Seats Inc. 1140 Sextonville Road Richland Center, WI closure 45 3/20/2009
    Wausaukee Composites 1010 S. Main St. Cuba City, WI layoff 61 immediately

    Correction: We've already pointed out that item from Jan. 25-31 issue regarding RWD Technologies layoffs incorrectly identified the location of the layoffs. RWD would like readers to know that its office in Troy, MI, remains open and continues to serve a growing number of clients in Michigan and worldwide. RWD recently reduced a percentage of its Troy-area workforce, but will continue to serve the Michigan market through this office.
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