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The article presents corporate news briefs as of November 30, 2012 on topics including the closing of food manufacturer Hostess Brands Inc., the expansion of drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and Co. in China, and the economic status of bookseller Barnes and Noble Inc.

The article reports on the bankruptcy proceedings of U.S. bakery company Hostess Brands Inc. as of November 23, 2012, discussing topics including labor union negotiations, anticipated layoffs, and potential sales of Hostess brands and factories to other operators.

The article reports that food manufacturer Hostess Brands Inc. said that mediation attempts with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTWGM) have failed as of November 21, 2012, resulting in the liquidation of the firm.

The article offers business news briefs as of November 15, 2012, including a threat by Hostess Brands Inc. to liquidate employees during a labor strike, job cuts by electronics firm Texas instruments Inc. (TI), and a third quarter 2012 loss by office retailer Staples Inc.

The article reports that bakery Hostess Brands Inc. has closed three of its plants in the U.S. in response to labor strikes organized by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union, and has warned that the company could soon begin liquidation proceedings if workers don't agree to cost-reduction measures.

The article reports that Journal Register Co., a newspaper company owned by hedge-fund manager Alden Global Capital LLC, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, noting it emerged from a previous bankruptcy process in 2009.

The article discusses the U.S. bankruptcy system as of 2012 with a focus on the growing number of companies filing for bankruptcy with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Chapter 11 provision.

The article states that U.S. baked goods producer Hostess Brands Inc. chief executive Gregory F. Rayburn stated on April 8, 2012, that compensation for Hostess executives would be reduced to $1 per year in salary until the company emerges from bankruptcy or December 31, 2012.

The article cites documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, New York, in 2012 by creditors of U.S. food company Hostess Brands Inc. stating that the company may have manipulated executive salaries prior to filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The article discusses opposition by labor unions and several food companies including ConAgra Foods Inc. and Perfection Bakeries Inc. to efforts by baked-goods producer Hostess Brands Inc. to shed its $2 billion pension liability as it reorganizes under bankruptcy protection.

The article discusses a potential 2012 strike by the U.S. Teamsters Union against Hostess Brands, Inc. concerning collective bargaining agreements.

The article offers corporate news including task force the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future's recommendation that the U.S. government should store nuclear waste, Hostess Brands Inc. seeking permission to cut labor agreements while in bankruptcy protection, and DNA sequencing machine company Illumina Inc.'s adoption of a share-holder rights plan to avoid a takeover.

The article reports that Moonlight Basin Ranch LP, a ski and golf resort, sold its assets to the estate of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in January 2012.

The article reports on the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to assess the key topic of whether lenders have the right to use debt as a currency in bankruptcy auctions.

The article reports on the impact of the restructuring of AMR Corp. under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on people and companies that ensure the viability of the operations of American Airlines.

The article discusses the decision of retailer Syms Corp. and its subsidiary, Filene's Basement LLC, to file for bankruptcy protection and liquidate.

The article reports that TSIC Inc., formerly known as Sharper Image Corp., is ready to reimburse consumers who still have gift cards.

The article reports that American pizza chain Sbarro has filed for bankruptcy protection due to liquidity crunch and difficulty in tapping the financing needed to recapitalize outside of bankruptcy.

The article reports on clearance granted by court to Harry & David Holdings Inc,. to secure a bankruptcy financing package worth 155 million .S. dollars.

The article reports on the victory of Alden Global Capital and Angelo Gordon & Co. in a bid to acquire Philadelphia Newspapers that publishes "Philadelphia Inquirer" and "Philadelphia Daily."

The article reports on the decision of Philadelphia Newspapers LLC to file its Chapter 11 plan on August 20, 2009 to sell itself to a group of investors. It notes that the new prospective owners of the company, which include Bruce Toll of Toll Builders Inc., a home builder, have offered to cover 25 million U.S. dollars for costs linked to the exit of the firm from bankruptcy. According to the plan, the company would eradicate debt of nearly 300 million dollars with a combined cash and real-estate offerings.

The article reports that private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital has prevailed at auction for Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. in 2009. Golden Gate agreed to pay 286 million U.S. dollars and keep the majority of Eddie Bauer's stores open. Other bidders for the retailer included CCMP Capital Advisors LLC, Iconix, VFC Corp., Hilco Consumer Capital, and Tiger Capital Group LLC.

The article announces that Crabtree & Evelyn Ltd., a company which sells personal-care products, has filed for bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, New York on July 1, 2009. According to the company, it has been suffering from declining sales over the past nine to 10 months. The company also plans to close some of its underperforming locations. As part of its bankruptcy proceedings, the company is seeking permission to borrow a disclosed amount from its parent, Kuala Lumpur Kepong.

The article reports on the $33 million tender offer of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. to buy Midway Games Inc. including its Mortal Kombat, Wheelman videogames and Gauntlet arcade game. The videogame maker said it wants Warner as a lead bidder for an auction that it will hold on June 29, 2009. The deal excludes two development studios and series based on the Total Nonstop Action. Warner Bros. plans to waive the $7.9 million payment owed by Midway for their previous game deals.

The article reports on the announcement of the acquisition of the Greenbrier fabled luxury resort in the Allegheny Mountains by family-owned West Virginia mining-and-farming company Justice Family Group on May 7, 2009. The firm is also planning to persuade a bankruptcy court to dismiss the Chapter 11 proceedings of the property. The initial plan of previous owner CSX Corp. to sell the Greenbrier to Marriott International Inc. has been impeded by the deal. The resort posted a loss of $35 million in 2008.

The article reports that Greenbrier Hotel Corp. sought Chapter 11 protection in Richmond, Virginia to sell its luxury West Virginia resort to Marriott International Inc. It states that the hotel has performed poorly in the face of an economic downturn and crippling labor disputes. Greenbrier's revenue declined by 25 percent in 2008 due to the decrease in demand for luxury vacations and extraordinary labor costs. According to the article, Marriott wants to gain a lucrative, long-term management contract for the resort.

The article reports on the acquisition of a theme park in Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, that carried the Hard Rock name, by Baker Leisure Group owner Steve Baker and a group of investors in February 2009. The recreation area was purchased for $25 million. FPI MB Entertainment LLC and HRP Myrtle Beach Holdings LLC are the new owners of the park. Mistakes committed by the previous owners of the park that led them to file for bankruptcy protection in September 2008 are cited, including failure to coordinate with local tourism officials.

The article reports on the bankruptcy protection sought by luxury-handbag designer Lambertson Truex LLC because it failed to sustain its upscale metropolitan outlets due to low demand for its expensive leather accessories. The company was forced to shut two of its locations in the U.S. after seeing its profits dropped by the downturn in consumer spending.

The article reports that Midway Games Inc. had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection citing a debt crisis driven by media mogul Sumner Redstone's sale of his stake in the videogame maker in November 2008. The company issued a warning that it would not be able to pay holders if they all asked for repayment, which the company expected. Annual operating losses have been reported by Midway Games since the fiscal year ended June 2000.

The article reports that My Rich Uncle (MRU) Holdings Inc., a student-loan business, has filed for Chapter 7 petition, to enable the company to reorganize while receiving protection from creditors. The business has halted originating loans in September 2008 due to liquidity problems. Under the petition, MRU listed four times as many liabilities as assets. MRU was able to attract students in the U.S. by offering unconditional 1% upfront discounts on its federal Stafford loans.

The article reports that the U.S. corporate defaults are expected to be at its highest level in more than 20 years as the global financial crisis intensifies and companies try to beat the recession. In December 2008, Moody's predicted the 2009 default rate at 10.4%. The rating agency however revised the estimate due to indicators that surpass the marks seen during the downturns in 2001 and 1991.

The article reports on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by shoe retailer Marty Shoes Inc. According to the court petition filed by Marty, its assets and debts are both in the $10 million to $50 million range. The company was founded by Marty Samowitz and includes 60 locations in four states in the U.S. Among its unsecured creditors are New Balance Athletic Shoes, Kenneth Cole and Sketchers USA.

The article announces the decision of Tropicana Entertainment LLC to auction its Casino Aztar in Indiana after several months of delay of its proposed sale. In March 2008, Tropicana agreed to sell the casino to Eldorado Resorts LLC for $220 million but before the sale could be closed, it filed for bankruptcy. Eldorado asked a court to force Tropicana to decide whether it would sell the casino but before any court rule was enacted, Tropicana itself decided it would sell in hope of generating a bid higher than that of Eldorado.

The article reports on the plan of Mrs. Fields Famous Brands to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008. According to the article, the company has been trying to negotiate a restructuring agreement with its senior note holders but warned that it might file for protection if it could not complete the deal out of court. The deal calls for its note holders to exchange their $195.7 million in notes for $90 million in new senior secured notes and 87.5% of company common stocks.

The article discusses ethical dilemmas facing boards of directors of major corporations concerning when and what to tell shareholders should a chief executive officer (CEO) become ill as was the case in mid-October 2015 when U.S. airline company United Continental Holdings Inc. CEO Oscar Munoz suffered a heart attack. The article also discusses the refusal of the board of U.S. technology company Apple Inc. to disclose two extended medical absences by co-founder Steve Jobs. The article discusses the concept of transparency in business.

The article reports a jury in San Francisco, California ruled that venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers was not guilty of sexual discrimination or retaliation toward former partner Ellen Pao. Pao alleged Kleiner Perkins had assigned her low-level work and acted against her when she complained about it.

The article speculates on U.S. economic performance for Autumn 2014, focusing on consumer spending and economic growth. Topics include a discussion on U.S. employers' reportedly slow hiring pace, the financial strategy of the U.S. auto industry, and increases in the production of U.S. oil from the Permian Basin in West Texas.

The article discusses a June 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision which allows some companies such as the craft retail company Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. to invoke religious exemptions in the required provision of contraception coverage in employee health care plans. Topics include the comments of people such as the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and other potential challenges to the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act health care legislation.

The article reports that on April 3, 2014 chief executive Brendan Eich resigned from the Mozilla software organization after having received heavy criticism for his 2008 donation in support of a California ballot initiative, Proposition 8, that would have banned gay marriage. Information is presented on the growing acceptance of gay marriage within U.S. corporations.

The article discusses financially-troubled firms that award pay raises and bonuses to executives. U.S. law restricts the ability of firms to pay retention bonuses once they have declared bankruptcy, so some companies institute payouts before filing. Bakery Hostess Brands Inc. gave pay raises to its chief executive officer and other executives five months before it declared bankruptcy in 2011.

The article reports that U.S. Senator Charles Grassley has requested Attorney General Eric Holder to review the Justice Department's enforcement of a provision of a 2005 bankruptcy law which limits executive compensation in firms in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. Grassley stated that he believes the bonuses paid to some executives may be in violation of the law.

The article reports that lawmakers in Indiana have stated that they would review the reunions objections law to clarify that it does not discriminate against gays and lesbians.

The article discusses a pact between some companies and workers in France which allows some technology-sector workers to stop using smartphones and electronic mail after completing a workday, focusing on reactions to the pact that may indicate that workers are concerned about the potential elimination of workday boundaries in countries such as Germany and the U.S. as of 2014.

The article offers business news briefs as of April 10, 2013, including a lawsuit by the firm Qiaodan Sports Co. against basketball player Michael Jordan, U.S. President Barack Obama made appointments to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and airplane manufacturer Boeing Co. is expanding a South Carolina plant.

The article offers U.S. business news briefs as of September 17, 2012. Former staff members of the newspaper publisher New York Times Co. have been asked to take an early pension payout. An attempted deal between food manufacturer Hostess Brands Inc. and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union (BCTBM) has failed. Airplane manufacturer Boeing Co. says that it expects a high volume of passenger jet orders in 2013.