Corporate Report: July 23 - July 29

HSN partners with Sony Pictures on “Eat Pray Love” promotion

St. Petersburg-based HSN's marketing program with Sony Pictures and its “Eat Pray Love” movie will be the multichannel retailer's most comprehensive marketing campaign in its history, including 72 hours of original programming from Aug. 6-8 and unique, movie-themed products.

Along with TV, the promotion will include online, mobile, print advertising, public relations, events and direct mail. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on August 13.

The three-day on-air events will include appearances by more than 20 of HSN's partners and brands and feature more than 400 items.

“This is a unique promotion that taps into [HSN's] power as a content, community and commerce platform,” Marc Weinstock, president of Worldwide Marketing for Sony Pictures, said in a press release.

Also, HSN plans to debut a collection of home decor and accessories from interior designer Jonathan Adler in October during the company's Home Design Event.

Brown & Brown companies buy three insurance firms

Regional subsidiaries of Daytona Beach- and Tampa-based Brown & Brown Inc. have purchased the assets of three companies.

Brown & Brown of South Carolina Inc. acquired the assets of Commonwealth Insurance Group LLC of Charleston, S.C. Founded in 1996, it recorded annual revenues of $2.6 million. It provides commercial property and casualty, group employee benefits, and workplace safety and wellness products and services.

Brown & Brown of New York Inc. purchased the assets of Meridian Group of New York Inc. of Utica, N.Y. Meridian Group provides life, health, and other employee benefits products and services throughout the state. It reported annual revenues of $1.3 million.

Brown & Brown Insurance of Georgia Inc. acquired the assets of Eberhart & Co. Insurors Inc., which has provided insurance in the Atlanta metro area since 1969. It has annual revenues of $1 million.

HealthPlan Holdings of Tampa buys GEMGroup

Tampa-based HealthPlan Holdings Inc. has purchased GEMGroup, a Pittsburgh-based provider of accounting, pension and 401(k) administration software and services.

The acquisition is expected to bolster HealthPlan's outsourcing technology and will expand its presence in the northeast where GEMGroup, which handles mostly self-funded and Taft-Hartley employee benefit plans for union workers, has five offices and more than 120 employees.

“GEMGroup has tremendous expertise and technology assets in the union trust market. It will greatly enhance our service offering,” Jeff Bak, CEO of HealthPlan, said in a press release.

Founded in 1970, HealthPlan Holdings Inc. provides solutions for the health care, ancillary and voluntary insurance markets. It currently supports more than 2 million members and thousands of small businesses, plus some of the nation's largest Taft-Hartley funds for unionized workers. It employs 1,100 people.

Justice Department settles with Pasco County Fair Association

A settlement has been reached in a Justice Department lawsuit charging that the Pasco County Fair Association discriminated against Hispanics by overcharging in the rental of a reception hall on its Dade City property.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa must still approve the settlement.

After accusations were made by the Greater Tampa Chapter of the ACLU Foundation, the government conducted an independent investigation, including using testers — individuals who posed as renters.

“This settlement sends the important message that the Justice Department and the Civil Rights Division are committed to eradicating illegal discrimination in public accommodations,” Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said in a press release.

Florida, Anderen banks joining forces, raising equity

In a proposed merger, Tampa-based Florida Bank Group Inc would acquire Anderen Financial Inc. of Palm Harbor for stock of the buyer.

Each Anderen Financial shareholder will receive 1.32 shares of Florida Bank Group common stock for each Anderen share of common stock owned. The transaction, approved by both boards of directors, is subject to regulatory and Anderen shareholder approval. It is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

Florida Bank Group agreed to raise between $10 and $30 million to reduce the amount of non-performing assets it carries.

Robert Rothman, chairman and CEO of Florida Bank Group, said in a press release, “With assets in excess of $1 billion, the combined company will benefit from greater efficiencies and economies of scale which will result in an improved earnings outlook.”

As of March 31, Anderen Financial had total assets of $150 million and shareholders equity of $44 million. The holding company's bank has four offices in the Tampa Bay and central Florida markets.

DLA Piper LLP was legal advisor to Florida Bank Group. Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P. and Smith Mackinnon, PA were financial and legal advisors, respectively, to Anderen Financial.

Florida Bank Group is the bank holding company of Florida Bank, with 16 locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Duval, Leon, Manatee, Sarasota and St. Johns counties. As of March 31, it had 180 employees, $843 million in total assets and $111 million in total equity.

Focus Management Group reviewing Michigan merger

Tampa-based Focus Management Group USA Inc. has been retained by the Michigan Department of the Attorney General to review the proposed sale of the assets of Detroit Medical Center and its affiliates to Vanguard Health Systems of Nashville.

In early June, the DMC agreed to sell its eight hospitals and related entities to Vanguard for $1.2 billion. The two companies hope to complete the sale by Nov. 1, pending State reviews.

Focus' managing directors James Hopwood in Chicago and Daniel McMurray in Tampa are leading the review of the financial and operational aspects of the deal to assess if Vanguard will continue to provide proper levels of charity care and other core services.

FMG provides services related to turnaround management, insolvency proceedings, business restructuring and improving operations.

Kforce Government Solutions wins U.S. Army small business award

Kforce Government Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tampa-based Kforce Inc., won a U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research Achievement Award for the development and commercialization of the TraumaFX Multiple Amputation Trauma Trainer, a realistic simulator that improves training for the treatment of injuries from explosions.

The product, which is available for military and civilian use, was initially developed by dNovus RDI prior to its acquisition by KGS.

This year, 471 projects were nominated for such an award; TraumaFX MATT was one of only 11 recipients.

Kforce Government Solutions is a contracting services provider for many federal and defense agencies. Kforce provides flexible and permanent staffing for commercial and governmental entities in technology, finance and accounting, and health and life sciences.

Revenue Management Solutions hires chief executive economist

Tampa-based Revenue Management Solutions has appointed Dr. Ken Burdett as its chief executive economist.

He is a economist and prolific author on economics and related subjects, and has been a member of the Department of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania for the last 10 years.

RMS is an international consulting firm specializing in quantitative modeling and statistical analysis of data, revenue management, and strategic pricing advice to the food service industry. It currently assists brands in 34 countries around the world.