Business briefs

Advertiser Staff

Bank adopts kalo leaf logo

American Savings Bank, Hawai'i's third-largest financial institution with $6.2 billion in assets, has adopted the kalo (taro) leaf as its new corporate logo, the company said yesterday.

The bank said the logo, which consists of a green taro leaf against a blue background, will be used on the company's new signage and marketing materials as well as in its advertising.

The logo was designed by the bank's advertising firm, Starr Seigle Communications, in consultation with Lindsey Pollock, a Hawaiian cultural specialist.

The change in logo is only the latest outward sign that the bank is going through an internal makeover to become more of a full-service banking institution. American Savings has been making inroads into Hawai'i's commercial banking market since it acquired the Hawai'i operations of Bank of America in 1997.

Dole acquisition talks extended

Dole Food Co. Chairman David Murdock extended to Dec. 18 the deadline for talks to acquire the 76 percent of the company his family doesn't already own, according to a regulatory filing yesterday.

Murdock said he again extended the deadline after discussions yesterday with the board special committee handling the negotiations.

Murdock offered in September to buy the rest of Dole for $29.50 a share. The special committee, made up of independent directors, rejected the offer and said it would negotiate for a higher price while its financial adviser contacted other interested parties.

Dole shares were trading about $28.98 on the New York Stock Exchange today.

This marks the third extension of the deadline, which initially expired Nov. 6 and was set to expire Wednesday.