News
Sports programs being cut at University of Ann Arbor amid efforts to improve finances
ANN ARBOR, MI – Concordia University Ann Arbor will discontinue its athletic programs after the 2024-25 season as part of its efforts to overcome financial instability, the university announced in a campus-wide email.
The Board of Regents of the private Lutheran university met on June 6th and asserted that the Ann Arbor campus does not have the resources or capacity to separate as an independent university from its larger affiliate in Mequon, Wisconsin.
Instead, the regents said cost-saving measures would be used to overcome a projected combined budget deficit of $9 million at both campuses.
RELATED: No separation or closure: Michigan college will remain open until 2025
Seven days later, cuts to Ann Arbor’s athletic programs were announced. The Ann Arbor campus spends about $5.2 million on athletics annually, according to a university report.
The university’s 26 intercollegiate varsity sports involve approximately 700 student-athletes who represent at least 70 percent of the student body on the Ann Arbor campus, athletic director Lonnie Pries said.
“I don’t think this is going to help (the Ann Arbor campus) from closing, because I don’t think it was ever in danger of closing in the first place,” Pries said. “We fully understand that there needed to be adjustments. Yes, this will reduce costs, but it will also reduce 70% of students enrolled.”
While athletics has contributed to enrollment growth in Ann Arbor, that growth is a false indicator of financial health, officials said, because athletics also significantly increases costs. In 2023, the Ann Arbor campus spent an average of $8,060 per student-athlete to operate intercollegiate athletic programs, officials said.
RELATED: Reduce or separate? Michigan college leaders will soon decide future
“After further review of our financial model, it has become apparent that it is not viable to continue these programs in Ann Arbor beyond next year,” Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor President Erik Ankerberg said in a statement.
Baseball coach and alumnus Zach Johnston said he believes the decision to cut athletics, however, is not just tied to monetary reasons.
“I believe this is due in many ways to politics, ego, corruption. It’s more than just greed,” Johnston said. “It seems to me that there are a lot of judgments being made about how we operate as Christians. I think there’s politics everywhere and I think that’s partly in this decision.”
A subcommittee of the Board of Regents produced a May 31 report task force report on the Ann Arbor campus that makes multiple references to the “confusion of Lutheran identity” on the Ann Arbor campus.
“Although athletics is clearly Christian, non-Lutheran coaches who take teams to visit non-Lutheran congregations confuse the Lutheran identity of the campus,” the report states.
“I was numb (when I got the email),” Johnston said. “It’s like you started a business, made it a success and now it’s being taken away and none of it is your fault.”
Pries had a feeling the decision to cut athletics was imminent, he said, adding that he and other members of the athletics department proposed resolutions to avoid the cuts but were denied.
Pries served as Concordia’s athletic director for 11 years, with the university adding eight varsity sports during his tenure. During his tenure, the Cardinals also won four national championships in baseball, softball and competitive cheerleading as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.
“You are sad. You are frustrated. You’re angry. You are hurt. You can run the gamut of negative emotions,” Pries said.
Trey Acker, a rising junior pitcher on the baseball team, said the cut was difficult to accept.
“It’s hard to imagine that when I committed my freshman year,” Acker, 20, said. “I never imagined this would happen.”
The Cardinals have enough players to fill competitive rosters for the 2024-25 season, Pries said.
Concordia University football practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. Christina Merrill | MLive.com
“I knew for sure I would play this year as long as there was a team,” said Owen Buning, a rising sophomore and tight end on the football team. “We have one last season to do what we came to Concordia to do in the first place.”
Athletic teams on the Concordia Wisconsin campus will continue, a university spokesperson said.
The plan to downsize Concordia University in Ann Arbor been on the move since February, when Ankerberg sent an email to students detailing the school’s financial problems. He said “the Ann Arbor campus had to be reimagined” and “will likely involve both staff reductions and the disposition of property, facilities and equipment.”
RELATED: Ann Arbor University Facing Financial Instability, Staff Reductions Likely
The May 31 subcommittee report states that the Church Extension Fund, an organization that has helped finance Concordia for more than a decade, was contacted about monetary support for the Ann Arbor campus’ independence from its Wisconsin affiliate.
The claim is false, said Jim Saalfeld, CEO of the Church Extension Fund.
“I’m sure if that was the difference between them downsizing the university or not, we would have taken it very seriously,” Saalfeld said. “From day one, I never saw what was characterized as a financial crisis and I saw the finances of the university.”
Saalfeld served as a member of the subcommittee but resigned on April 12 after saying the subcommittee’s work was outside the scope of the Board of Regents resolution.
Want more news from the Ann Arbor area? Mark the Ann Arbor local news pageO Ypsilanti Area News Page or sign up for free “3@3 Ann Arbor”Daily newsletter.
More from the Ann Arbor News
News
Modiv Industrial to release Q2 2024 financial results on August 6
RENO, Nev., August 1, 2024–(BUSINESS THREAD)–Modiv Industrial, Inc. (“Modiv” or the “Company”) (NYSE:MDV), the only public REIT focused exclusively on the acquisition of industrial real estate properties, today announced that it will release second quarter 2024 financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 before the market opens on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Management will host a conference call the same day at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time (10:30 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the results.
Live conference call: 1-877-407-0789 or 1-201-689-8562 at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time Tuesday, August 6.
Internet broadcast: To listen to the webcast, live or archived, use this link https://callme.viavid.com/viavid/?callme=true&passcode=13740174&h=true&info=company&r=true&B=6 or visit the investor relations page of the Modiv website at www.modiv.com.
About Modiv Industrial
Modiv Industrial, Inc. is an internally managed REIT focused on single-tenant net-leased industrial manufacturing real estate. The company actively acquires critical industrial manufacturing properties with long-term leases to tenants that fuel the national economy and strengthen the nation’s supply chains. For more information, visit: www.modiv.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240731628803/en/
Contacts
Investor Inquiries:
management@modiv.com
News
Volta Finance Limited – Director/PDMR Shareholding
Volta Finance Limited
Volta Finance Limited (VTA/VTAS)
Notification of transactions by directors, persons exercising managerial functions
responsibilities and people closely associated with them
NOT FOR DISCLOSURE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN THE UNITED STATES
*****
Guernsey, 1 August 2024
Pursuant to announcements made on 5 April 2019 and 26 June 2020 relating to changes to the payment of directors’ fees, Volta Finance Limited (the “Company” or “Volta”) purchased 3,380 no par value ordinary shares of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) at an average price of €5.2 per share.
Each director receives 30% of his or her director’s fee for any year in the form of shares, which he or she is required to hold for a period of not less than one year from the respective date of issue.
The shares will be issued to the Directors, who for the purposes of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse (“March“) are “people who exercise managerial responsibilities” (a “PDMR“).
-
Dagmar Kershaw, Chairman and MDMR for purposes of MAR, has acquired an additional 1,040 Common Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Ms. Kershaw will have an interest in 12,838 Common Shares, representing 0.03% of the Company’s issued shares;
-
Stephen Le Page, a Director and a PDMR for MAR purposes, has acquired an additional 728 Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mr. Le Page will have an interest in 50,562 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.14% of the issued shares of the Company;
-
Yedau Ogoundele, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR has acquired an additional 728 Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Ms. Ogoundele will have an interest in 6,862 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.02% of the issued shares of the Company; and
-
Joanne Peacegood, Director and PDMR for MAR purposes has acquired an additional 884 Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Ms. Peacegood will have an interest in 3,505 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.01% of the issued shares of the Company;
The notifications below, made in accordance with the requirements of the MAR, provide further details in relation to the above transactions:
a) Dagmar Kershaw |
b) Stephen LePage |
c) Yedau Ogoundele |
e) Joanne Pazgood |
|||
a. Position/status |
Director |
|||||
b. Initial Notification/Amendment |
Initial notification |
|||||
|
||||||
a name |
Volta Finance Limited |
|||||
b. LAW |
2138004N6QDNAZ2V3W80 |
|||||
a. Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument |
Ordinary actions |
|||||
b. Identification code |
GG00B1GHHH78 |
|||||
c. Nature of the transaction |
Acquisition and Allocation of Common Shares in Relation to Partial Payment of Directors’ Fees for the Quarter Ended July 31, 2024 |
|||||
d. Price(s) |
€5.2 per share |
|||||
e. Volume(s) |
Total: 3380 |
|||||
f. Transaction date |
August 1, 2024 |
|||||
g. Location of transaction |
At the Market – London |
|||||
The) |
B) |
w) |
It is) |
|||
Aggregate Volume: Price: |
Aggregate Volume: Price: |
Aggregate Volume: Price: |
Aggregate Volume: Price: |
CONTACTS
For the investment manager
AXA Investment Managers Paris
Francois Touati
francois.touati@axa-im.com
+33 (0) 1 44 45 80 22
Olivier Pons
Olivier.pons@axa-im.com
+33 (0) 1 44 45 87 30
Company Secretary and Administrator
BNP Paribas SA, Guernsey branch
guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com
+44 (0) 1481 750 853
Corporate Broker
Cavendish Securities plc
Andre Worn Out
Daniel Balabanoff
+44 (0) 20 7397 8900
*****
ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED
Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange for listed securities. Volta’s home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to the regulation and supervision of the AFM, which is the regulator of the financial markets in the Netherlands.
Volta’s investment objectives are to preserve its capital throughout the credit cycle and to provide a stable income stream to its shareholders through dividends that it expects to distribute quarterly. The company currently seeks to achieve its investment objectives by seeking exposure predominantly to CLOs and similar asset classes. A more diversified investment strategy in structured finance assets may be pursued opportunistically. The company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris, an investment management firm with a division specializing in structured credit, to manage the investment portfolio of all of its assets.
*****
ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-specialist asset management firm within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 2,700 professionals and €844 billion in assets under management at the end of December 2023.
*****
This press release is issued by AXA Investment Managers Paris (“AXA IM”) in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the “AIFM Directive”) of Volta Finance Limited (“Volta Finance”), the portfolio of which is managed by AXA IM.
This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to purchase shares of Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in violation of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer to sell the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are “U.S. persons” for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise in circumstances where such an offering would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any part of the offering of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.
*****
This communication is being distributed to, and is directed only at, (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be made only to, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act on or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance.
*****
This press release contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “is/are expected”, “may”, “will” or “should”. They include statements about the level of the dividend, the current market environment and its impact on the long-term return on Volta Finance’s investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results, portfolio composition and performance of Volta Finance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.
Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events that may not materialize. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, targets are not intended to be and should not be considered to be profits or earnings or any other type of forecast. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.
Figures provided which relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be considered as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of Volta Finance’s investment methodologies and philosophies as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM’s belief in the future success of any such trade or strategy is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.
The valuation of financial assets may vary significantly from the prices that AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on Volta Finance’s behalf due to market conditions and the general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be relied upon as such.
Publisher: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, with registered office at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide – 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by Autorité des Marchés Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.
*****
News
Apple to report third-quarter earnings as Wall Street eyes China sales
Litter (AAPL) is set to report its fiscal third-quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday, and unlike the rest of its tech peers, the main story won’t be about the rise of AI.
Instead, analysts and investors will be keeping a close eye on iPhone sales in China and whether Apple has managed to stem the tide of users switching to domestic rivals including Huawei.
For the quarter, analysts expect Apple to report earnings per share (EPS) of $1.35 on revenue of $84.4 billion, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Apple saw EPS of $1.26 on revenue of $81.7 billion in the same period last year.
Apple shares are up about 18.6% year to date despite a rocky start to the year, thanks in part to the impact of the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in May, where showed off its Apple Intelligence software.
But the big question on investors’ minds is whether iPhone sales have risen or fallen in China. Apple has struggled with slowing phone sales in the region, with the company noting an 8% decline in sales in the second quarter as local rivals including Huawei and Xiaomi gain market share.
Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks at the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
And while some analysts, such as JPMorgan’s Samik Chatterjee, believe sales in Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, rose in the third quarter, others, including David Vogt of UBS Global Research, say sales likely fell about 6%.
Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg say Apple will report revenue of $15.2 billion in Greater China, down 3.1% from the same quarter last year, when Apple reported revenue of $15.7 billion in China. Overall iPhone sales are expected to reach $38.9 billion, down 1.8% year over year from the $39.6 billion Apple saw in the third quarter of 2023.
But Apple is expected to make up for those declines in other areas, including Services and iPad sales. Services revenue is expected to reach $23.9 billion in the quarter, up from $21.2 billion in the third quarter of 2023, while iPad sales are expected to reach $6.6 billion, up from the $5.7 billion the segment brought in in the same period last year. Those iPad sales projections come after Apple launched its latest iPad models this year, including a new iPad Pro lineup powered by the company’s M4 chip.
Mac revenue is also expected to grow modestly in the quarter, versus a 7.3% decline last year. Sales of wearables, which include the Apple Watch and AirPods, however, are expected to decline 5.9% year over year.
In addition to Apple’s revenue numbers, analysts and investors will be listening closely for any commentary on the company’s software launches. Apple Intelligence beta for developers earlier this week.
The story continues
The software, which is powered by Apple’s generative AI technology, is expected to arrive on iPhones, iPads and Macs later this fall, though according to Bloomberg’s Marc GurmanIt won’t arrive alongside the new iPhone in September. Instead, it’s expected to arrive on Apple devices sometime in October.
Analysts are divided on the potential impact of Apple Intelligence on iPhone sales next year, with some saying the software will kick off a new iPhone sales supercycle and others offering more pessimistic expectations about the technology’s effect on Apple’s profits.
It’s important to note that Apple Intelligence is only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and newer phones, ensuring that all users desperate to get their hands on the tech will have to upgrade to a newer, more powerful phone as soon as it is available.
Either way, if Apple wants to make Apple Intelligence a success, it will need to ensure it has the features that will make customers excited to take advantage of the offering.
Subscribe to the Yahoo Finance Tech Newsletter. (Yahoo Finance)
Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
News
Number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits hits highest level in a year
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits hit its highest level in a year last week, even as the job market remains surprisingly healthy in an era of high interest rates.
Jobless claims for the week ending July 27 rose 14,000 to 249,000 from 235,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. It’s the highest number since the first week of August last year and the 10th straight week that claims have been above 220,000. Before that period, claims had remained below that level in all but three weeks this year.
Weekly jobless claims are widely considered representative of layoffs, and while they have been slightly higher in recent months, they remain at historically healthy levels.
Strong consumer demand and a resilient labor market helped avert a recession that many economists predicted during the Federal Reserve’s prolonged wave of rate hikes that began in March 2022.
As inflation continues to declinethe Fed’s goal of a soft landing — reducing inflation without causing a recession and mass layoffs — appears to be within reach.
On Wednesday, the Fed left your reference rate aloneBut officials have strongly suggested a cut could come in September if the data stays on its recent trajectory. And recent labor market data suggests some weakening.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in June, despite the fact that American employers added 206,000 jobs. U.S. job openings also fell slightly last month. Add that to the rise in layoffs, and the Fed could be poised to cut interest rates next month, as most analysts expect.
The four-week average of claims, which smooths out some of the weekly ups and downs, rose by 2,500 to 238,000.
The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits in the week of July 20 jumped by 33,000 to 1.88 million. The four-week average for continuing claims rose to 1,857,000, the highest since December 2021.
Continuing claims have been rising in recent months, suggesting that some Americans receiving unemployment benefits are finding it harder to get jobs.
There have been job cuts across a range of sectors this year, from agricultural manufacturing Deerefor media such as CNNIt is in another place.
-
News8 months ago
Leeds hospitals trust says finances are “critical” amid £110m deficit
-
News6 months ago
Modiv Industrial to release Q2 2024 financial results on August 6
-
News6 months ago
Volta Finance Limited – Director/PDMR Shareholding
-
News8 months ago
Inventiva reports 2024 First Quarter Financial Information¹ and provides a corporate update
-
DeFi8 months ago
🏴☠️ Pump.Fun operated by Insider Exploit
-
News6 months ago
Apple to report third-quarter earnings as Wall Street eyes China sales
-
Videos8 months ago
“We will enter the ‘banana zone’ in 2 WEEKS! Cryptocurrency prices will quadruple!” – Raoul Pal
-
News6 months ago
Number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits hits highest level in a year
-
Tech8 months ago
Bitcoin’s Correlation With Tech Stocks Is At Its Highest Since August 2023: Bloomberg ⋆ ZyCrypto
-
Tech8 months ago
Everything you need to know
-
Markets8 months ago
Whale Investments in Bitcoin Hit $100 Billion in 2024, Fueling Insane Investor Optimism ⋆ ZyCrypto
-
Videos8 months ago
History will be made tomorrow! The Cryptocurrency Market Will Absolutely Crash – Raoul Pal