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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 24, 2009

BUSINESS BRIEFS
HPU workshop features businessmen

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Michael Paulin

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Local businessmen Patrick Sullivan and Michael Paulin will be sharing their strategies for dealing with the economic slowdown Friday in a presentation sponsored by the Pappas Entrepreneurial Leadership Series at Hawai'i Pacific University.

Sullivan, chief executive officer of Oceanit Laboratories, and Paulin, chairman of Aqua Resort, represent two sectors that have been adversely affected by the downturn in the economy.

"Students enjoy meeting entrepreneurs and hearing their stories about how they started their business and particularly how they overcome obstacles," said Dr. Bee Leng Chua, executive director of the HPU Entrepreneurship Center.

The presentation is set for 3 to 5 p.m. at 900 Fort Street Mall, 20th floor. For more information, call 687-7068.


BOYD OFFERS TO BUY STATION ASSETS

Boyd Gaming Co., the Las Vegas company whose casinos are popular with Hawai'i residents, is making a play for some of the assets of rival Station Casinos Inc.

Boyd yesterday offered about $950 million to buy all of the Station Casino assets that aren't used to secure loans, saying it has sufficient credit to pull off the transaction as quickly as possible.

Station, which operates 18 gaming facilities around Las Vegas, has said it may file for bankruptcy because it has had trouble paying creditors.

The deal would be contingent on Boyd confirming the estimated enterprise value of $950 million for Station assets and other due diligence.


HAWAII TOURISM JAPAN CLOSING OFFICE

Hawaii Tourism Japan, the firm that markets Hawai'i to visitors in Japan, said yesterday it will close its Hawai'i office at the end of this month as part of a cost-cutting measure.

Executive director Takashi Ichikura sent out an e-mail to marketing partners yesterday notifying them of the change.

"As a result of the current market conditions and to maximize our marketing budget, we have decided to downsize our Hawai'i office, and are currently reviewing our operations," he said.

Ichikura referred all future inquiries to the Tokyo office.