In brief: Anesthesiologist groups combine with Providence
Providence Medical Group has assimilated two private anesthesiologist groups that provided services at two Spokane hospitals.
Providence said the arrangement is not a purchase. The deal changes the status of the two groups from contracted service providers to hired staff, said spokesman Joe Robb.
The units are Physicians Anesthesia Group PS, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, and Anesthesiology Inc., at Providence Holy Family Hospital.
They’re now part of Providence Anesthesia Services. That unit has 39 anesthesiologists and 94 certified registered nurse anesthetists. Four workers from those groups took voluntary separations, Robb said.
Boise Cascade Co. shares rise 24 percent in IPO
Boise Cascade Co. started a second life as a publicly traded corporation Wednesday with an initial public offering that sent its New York Stock Exchange shares rising 24 percent, to $26.12.
The Boise-based company has 49 U.S. facilities, making wood products and building materials. It operates plywood and lumber mills in Colville and Kettle Falls, Wash., and a distribution center in Spokane.
The first Boise Cascade Corp. traded on the New York Stock Exchange until 2003 and was one of the country’s largest wood products companies. In 2004 the company sold its paper, building products and timberland assets to private equity firm Madison Dearborn.
Madison Dearborn spun off the paper products and packaging unit into OfficeMax. Madison Dearborn also renamed the forest products operation Boise Cascade Co.
In February 2008 the company spun off its paper and packaging operations and continued operating Boise Cascade as a limited liability corporation.
Liberty Global adding Virgin Media to cable empire
NEW YORK – Liberty Global Inc., the cable TV operator controlled by media mogul John Malone, is buying U.K.-based Virgin Media Inc. in a $16 billion deal that steps up the rivalry between Malone and fellow billionaire Rupert Murdoch.
Liberty Global is paying $5.9 billion in cash and the rest in stock for Virgin Media. The combination will provide stiffer competition in the U.K. to satellite TV provider BSkyB, in which Murdoch’s News Corp. is the largest single shareholder.
The combined Liberty Global-Virgin Media company will become one of the world’s largest providers of cable TV, Internet and phone services, with 25 million customers in 14 countries.