BOCA RATON —
» Wireless Solutions International, a provider of global wireless roaming services, was acquired by Tampa-based telecom industry company Syniverse Technologies (NYSE-SVR).
» International interior design and engineering firm Georgeson Group opened a regional headquarters.
DANIA BEACH —
» Developer Atlantic Village began construction of the $150-million Atlantic Village Hotel & Marina. Completion is scheduled for 2011.
FORT LAUDERDALE —
» Regional carrier Gulfstream International Airlines faces a $1.3-million fine from the FAA for allegedly violating regulations on crew scheduling, leading to overscheduled crews, and installing unapproved air-conditioning compressors and improperly maintained vent blowers on aircraft.
» General Motors notified AutoNation (NYSE-AN) that it won’t renew contracts for six AutoNation dealerships, effectively closing them, as part of its closing of 1,100 nationally. Chrysler also said it would close seven AutoNation dealerships, including two in south Florida: Maroone Dodge in Miami and Maroone Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Coconut Creek.
» New Jersey-based telemarketer CDG Management plans to lay off 99 when it shuts its Fort Lauderdale call center.
FORT PIERCE —
» HCA says its Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute in Fort Pierce opened the first trauma center between West Palm Beach and Melbourne, one of the few privately funded trauma centers in Florida.
PALM BEACH GARDENS —
» Biotech company Leinco Technologies is relocating its headquarters to Palm Beach Gardens from St. Louis. Leinco received $700,000 in loans from the town of Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens in exchange for promising to create 15 jobs in its first year and a total of 35 in three years.
PORT ST. LUCIE —
» Woodbridge Holdings, owner of Core Communities, the developer of the massive Tradition residential project in Port St. Lucie, is optimistic that lenders will agree to restructure debt. Woodbridge had earlier warned investors that there’s substantial doubt about Core’s ability to continue as a going concern. Woodbridge says it and Core have significant cash reserves.
SUNRISE —
» Mednax (NYSE-MD) acquired a 12-physician practice group that provides neonatal intensive care and well-baby care at five Houston hospitals. Separately, Mednax acquired a five-doctor group in Jacksonville, Regional Obstetric Consultants.
» Developer Sawgrass Investors won city approval of a zoning change that will allow construction of a 10-story, 350-room hotel and office tower project on 22 acres west of the Sawgrass Expressway and on the edge of the Everglades.
» Published reports say the owners of the NHL’s Florida Panthers are in talks to merge the team, along with its contract with show-venue BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise where the team plays, and associated assets, into Sports Properties Acquisition, a blind pool company formed last year.
VERO BEACH —
» The Indian River Chamber of Commerce’s economic development unit is working with an alternative energy company Ineos New Planet Bioenergy that’s looking at bringing 125 jobs to the county. A cosmetics distribution company, meanwhile, is locating in the county, bringing 35 jobs. The chamber hasn’t disclosed the cosmetics company’s name.
WEST PALM BEACH —
» Pending regulatory and shareholder approval, Southeast Acquisition Holding Corp. of Miami, an investment group led by Aztec Group CEO Ezra Katz, will acquire a majority stake in First Bank of the Palm Beaches.