23rd Hunter Hotel Investment Conference Scheduled for March 6-8, 2011, in Atlanta

Keynote Speakers Are Jim Abrahamson and Jack DeBoer

Officials of the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, one of the four major national annual hotel investment conferences, today announced that the 23rd annual event will be held March 6-8, 2011, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Two industry luminaries, Jim Abrahamson, president of Americas, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Jack DeBoer, founder and chairman, Value Place, will headline the event as keynote speakers.

“We have a strong tradition of bringing in the top industry leaders to share successful hospitality business practices as keynote speakers,” said Bob Hunter, CEO of Hunter Realty and conference co-chair. “Jim has played a leadership role in the development of a number of the world’s leading brands, while Jack is the acknowledged ‘father’ of the extended-stay concept. We look forward to hearing their unique insights into the industry and its future outlook.

“The conference has gained a strong reputation as an important networking and education event over the last 22 years,” Hunter added. “This conference focuses on the needs of hotel owners, who make up a large number of our total attendees. Proceeds from the event support special scholarships at Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality.”

Speaker Profiles:

· Jim Abrahamson—As president of the Americas, Abrahamson oversees management, growth and profitability of IHG’s portfolio of more than 3,400 hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America. Also, he has worked with The Marcus Corporation as president, limited-service lodging; Hilton Hotels Corporation as senior vice president, franchising; and Global Hyatt Corporation as head of development, the Americas.

· Jack DeBoer—Creating the extended-stay concept with the first Residence Inn, he expanded the business to 100 hotels, which were sold to Marriott International, Inc. He then co-founded the Summerfield Hotel Corporation, now owned by Global Hyatt Corporation. He later launched Candlewood Hotel Corporation and sold it to IHG after establishing 130 properties. Most recently, DeBoer established the extended-stay hotel chain Value Place which currently has a portfolio of 160 locations.

For more information on the program and to register, please visit the conference website at www.HunterConference.com, or contact Bob Hunter or Nancy Petenbrink, Conference Director, at 770-916-0300 or by email at nancy.petenbrink@hunterhotels.net. The conference headquarters are located at 300 Galleria Parkway, S-620, Atlanta, Ga. 30339.

New Berlin Airport a Boon to American Businesses in Eastern Germany

/PRNewswire/ -- The twenty year anniversary of the reunification of Germany yesterday put the spotlight back on the formerly divided country and its capital, Berlin. Located at the center of Eastern Germany, Berlin now boasts one of the world's most impressive infrastructure projects, Berlin Brandenburg International airport. The airport adds to the region's portfolio as an international, high-tech business location, which is underscored by the presence of more investment projects in Eastern Germany from the USA than from any other country. Germany Trade & Invest will be presenting business opportunities in Eastern Germany to American companies at an event in Atlanta on October 5, 2010.

Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, slated to open in July of 2012, will serve the growing number of passengers to the region, with the ability to expand to serve 45 million travelers annually. At the same time, the airport provides an international hub in the center of Eastern Germany, a region currently characterized by growth in a number of cutting-edge fields like renewable energies, auto manufacturing and semiconductors. This project is expected to further attract businesses to the dynamic region.

The investor event on October 5, billed "Check in to Eastern Germany for European Business Success", will present new opportunities in the region arising from the opening of Berlin Brandenburg International airport in 2012, including business success stories in the region.

The USA is the number one source of foreign direct investment in Eastern Germany due to the region's growth potential, stable investment environment and concentration of high-tech industries. Several of the largest American companies are present here, including Atlanta-based Delta Airlines, First Solar, Amazon, General Electric, and Dell Computers.

On the whole, Germany is the top business location for American companies in Europe, according to a survey of American decision makers conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany. This is expected to continue, considering Germany's strong economic growth in the previous quarter. GDP grew by 2.2 percent, the highest quarterly result since reunification.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

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Senate Extends Vital SBA Programs

/PRNewswire/ -- The United States Senate unanimously agreed to extend the Small Business Administration (SBA) and vital programs that fall under the Small Business Administration Act and the Small Business Investment Act, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The programs, which have been operating under a temporary extender and were set to expire on April 30, 2010, will continue with a three-month extension through July 31, 2010. The bill now heads to the House for approval. United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship made the following comment on the passage of the extension:

"The extension of these programs that fall under the Small Business Administration, such as the SBIR and STTR, will allow the nation's innovators and entrepreneurs to continue their work as we continue negotiations with the House for a longer, more comprehensive agreement. Over the next three months, I encourage the entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers looking for jobs, or waiting for a chance to explore a promising and innovative idea, to apply for research projects through these programs. SBIR and STTR entrepreneurs start businesses, create jobs and account for 25 percent of our nation's innovators, and we are ready to support them and their businesses."

Small firms employ 41 percent of the nation's high-tech workers and generate 13 to 14 times more patents per employee than large firms. The SBIR program alone has generated more than 84,000 patents and millions of jobs. Eleven federal agencies participate in the SBIR program -- including the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation -- allocating 2.5 percent of their extramural research and development dollars for the program.

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Delta to Invest in Customer Experience, Fleet Efficiency

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) will invest $1 billion, or about $300 million per year, through mid-2013 to improve the customer experience in the air and on the ground. The capital investment will improve the consistency and level of service provided to Delta's BusinessElite, First Class and elite-level flyers, as well as increasing the efficiency of the airline's fleet. Planned enhancements include:

-- Installing full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite on 90 trans-oceanic
aircraft, including 14 Boeing 767-400ERs, 52 Boeing 767-300ERs, 16
Boeing 747-400s and eight Boeing 777-200ERs. Upon completion, each of
these fleets will have full flat bed seats on all aircraft.
-- Adding in-seat audio and video on demand throughout Economy Class on
16 Boeing 747-400 and 52 Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. With these
additions, Delta will offer personal, in-seat entertainment for both
BusinessElite and Economy class customers on all wide-body aircraft.
-- Adding First Class cabins to 66 CRJ-700 aircraft operated by Delta
Connection carriers ASA, Comair and SkyWest, bringing to 219 the
number of regional aircraft with First Class seating.
-- Completing the modification of 269 pre-merger Northwest aircraft to
feature Delta's signature blue leather seats, updated lighting and
enhanced cabin amenities such as increased overhead bin space on
pre-merger Northwest 757-200s.
-- Installing winglets on more than 170 Boeing 767-300ER, 757-200 and
737-800 aircraft to extend aircraft range and improve fuel efficiency
by as much as five percent.
-- Renovating and expanding Delta's Los Angeles Sky Club lounge, and
introducing new Sky Club locations in Seattle, Philadelphia and
Indianapolis.


"Delta's planned fleet and product investments mark the most significant investment we have made in our customers in more than a decade," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. "Our premium travelers tell us that the comfort of a flat bed seat with direct aisle access, a first class experience on regional jets and in-flight entertainment are important factors in their choice of carrier."

"This investment will be made while staying well within the level of our historical capital expenditures," said Ed Bastian, Delta's president. "Rather than invest in new aircraft, Delta will be spending its capital to improve the quality and consistency of the on-board product and efficiency of the aircraft we already own."

Delta currently offers the most on-demand entertainment among U.S. carriers with more than 100 domestic aircraft equipped with in-seat audio and video on demand. Delta also continues to rapidly expand in-flight Wi-Fi service, which is available on more than 340 aircraft and more than 1,200 flights each day. Delta, the largest operator of Wi-Fi enabled aircraft in the world, plans to have more than 530 aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi by mid-2010.

Delta's upcoming fleet and product investments build on recently announced improvements including the re-launch of the Red Coat program at Delta's international hub at JFK and subsequently at all domestic hubs; the addition of BusinessElite service on Delta's transcontinental routes between New York-JFK and Los Angeles and San Francisco; the introduction of the full flat bed seats on all flights between the United States and London-Heathrow; and the announcement of plans to create a domestic hub at Delta's No. 1 business airport - New York-LaGuardia, subject to government approvals.

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Rinnai Corporation Invests $10 Million Capital in U.S. Growth

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rinnai Corporation, the world’s leader in gas appliance manufacturing, announced today that the company will make a $10 million capital investment into their North American subsidiary, Rinnai America Corporation (RAC). This investment represents Rinnai Japan’s ongoing commitment to the North American market and will help fund RAC’s continued dynamic growth. RAC, which has experienced double-digit growth in recent years, continues to be the market leader in tankless water heaters in North America and foresees abundant future growth opportunities.

Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga.

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Southeast Venture Conference Bringing $70 Billion in Investment Capital to Atlanta

/PRNewswire/ -- The 2009 Southeast Venture Conference scheduled for March 11-12th, 2009, at the Intercontinental Buckhead is bringing the largest Venture Capital and Private Equity event in Georgia history to Atlanta.

Forty showcase companies representing a wide array of technologies from around the Southeast will present to a national and regional audience representing over $70 billion in investment capital. Presenting companies range from late stage pre-IPO firms to earlier stage high growth firms. Nine of those showcase companies are based in Georgia.

In addition to presenting companies, the conference will feature over 50 prominent speakers and panelists, including venture capitalist heavyweight Tim Draper, founder and managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson; Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes Magazine; Chip Perry, president and CEO of AutoTrader.com; Governor Robert Ehrlich, Jr. of Maryland; and Robin Weiss, senior vice president of NYSE Euronext.

The nine companies representing Georgia at the Southeast Venture Conference are:

CRE Loaded - Atlanta, Georgia
EndoChoice - Atlanta, Georgia
Femasys - Suwanee, Georgia
FTRANS - Atlanta, Georgia
NanoLumens - Norcross, Georgia
Prenova - Marietta, Georgia
Purewire - Atlanta, Georgia
OpenSpan - Alpharetta, Georgia
TerraGo Technologies - Atlanta, Georgia


"Even more evident than in any time in modern history, our country and our region are depending on technology innovation to remain globally competitive," said Eric Gregg, executive director of the Southeast Venture Conference. "The SEVC showcase companies represent the drivers of the Southeast technology economy and are well on their way, having collectively already raised over half a billion in venture capital."

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Bank of America Completes Merrill Lynch Purchase

/PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation today completed its purchase of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. creating a premier financial services franchise with significantly enhanced wealth management, investment banking and international capabilities.

"We created this new organization because we believe that wealth management and corporate and investment banking represent significant growth opportunities, especially when combined with our leading capabilities in consumer and commercial banking," said Bank of America Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ken Lewis. "We are now uniquely positioned to win market share and expand our leadership position in markets around the world."

Bank of America will have the largest wealth management business in the world with approximately 20,000 financial advisors and more than $2 trillion in client assets. Global investment management capabilities will include approximately 50 percent ownership in BlackRock Inc., which at September 30 had $1.26 trillion in assets under management. Bank of America had $564 billion in assets under management in the same period.

The combination also adds strengths in debt and equity underwriting, sales and trading, and merger and acquisition advice, creating significant opportunities to deepen relationships with corporate and institutional clients around the globe.

Under terms of the agreement, shareholders of Merrill Lynch received .8595 shares of Bank of America common stock for each common share of Merrill Lynch.

As previously announced, Bank of America expects to achieve $7 billion in pre-tax expense savings, fully realized by 2012. Cost reductions will come from a range of sources, including the elimination of positions announced on December 11, and the reduction of overlapping technology, vendor and marketing expenses. In addition, the company is expected to benefit by leveraging its broad product set to deepen relationships with existing Merrill Lynch customers.

Forward-Looking Statements

Bank of America may make forward-looking statements, including statements about the financial conditions, results of operations and earnings outlook of Bank of America Corporation. The forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results or earnings to differ materially from such forward - looking statements include, among others, the following: 1) projected business increases following process changes and other investments are lower than expected; 2) competitive pressure among financial services companies increases significantly; 3) general economic conditions are less favorable than expected; 4) political conditions including the threat of future terrorist activity and related actions by the United States abroad may adversely affect the company's businesses and economic conditions as a whole; 5) changes in the interest rate environment and market liquidity reduce interest margins, impact funding sources and effect the ability to originate and distribute financial products in the primary and secondary markets; 6) changes in foreign exchange rates increases exposure; 7) changes in market rates and prices may adversely impact the value of financial products; 8) legislation or regulatory environments, requirements or changes adversely affect the businesses in which the requirements or changes adversely affect the businesses in which the company is engaged; 9) changes in accounting standards, rules or interpretations, 10) litigation liabilities, including costs, expenses, settlements and judgments, may adversely affect the company or its businesses; 11) mergers and acquisitions and their integration into the company; and 12) decisions to downsize, sell or close units or otherwise change the business mix of any of the company. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Bank of America does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. For further information regarding Bank of America Corporation, please read the Bank of America reports filed with the SEC and available at http://www.sec.gov/.

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