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DEVELOPING:
ADDS: SMOKING BAN, BANCO-SANTANDER-BRAZIL-IPO, IPO MARKET
NEBRASKA BUDGET WOES
LINCOLN—Gov. Dave Heineman said Wednesday he will call a special legislative session to address declining state tax revenues, and that his office would examine “all options” except tax hikes when recommending to lawmakers how to close a projected budget gap. The Republican governor said he would call the session for early next month unless economic forecasters whose projections help form the state budget predict strong tax revenues when they meet late this month. Heineman called such a projection “totally unlikely.” By Nate Jenkins.
SMOKING BAN
OMAHA—An Omaha pool hall owner has renewed his legal challenge of the state’s smoking ban by filing a revised complaint in Lancaster County District Court arguing the ban is unconstitutional. The statewide smoking ban that took effect June 1 includes exemptions for cigar bars, some hotel rooms, tobacco-only retailers, facilities that do research on the health effects of smoking, and private residences. By Josh Funk.
BUSINESS:
VERISK ANALYTICS-IPO DEBUT
NEW YORK—Shares of Verisk Analytics Inc., an insurance data specialist that first signaled that it planned to offer shares to the public shortly before the collapse of Lehman Brothers, soared Wednesday in their trading debut. The Jersey City, N.J., company, whose selling stockholders include insurance giants American International Group and Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. raised $1.9 billion from selling 85.3 million shares at $22 each, more than the $19 to $21 per share range that had been expected. The stock rose $5.25, or 23.9 percent, to $27.26 in midday trading on volume of 52.6 million shares. By Business Writer Tali Arbel.
Eds: NOTE that Omaha, Neb.-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a major investor in Verisk and is not selling stock as part of the IPO, so Berkshire will control about 10.7 percent of Verisk’s stock.
US-BANCO-SANTANDER-BRAZIL-IPO
NEW YORK—Spanish financial giant Banco Santander SA has raised $8.1 billion with an initial public offering of shares in its Brazilian subsidiary, the largest IPO in the world this year. In an effort to expand its Latin American operations, the bank sold shares in Banco Santander Brasil SA, in the United States and in Brazil, where the offering was that nation’s biggest offering ever—eclipsing VisaNet’s $4.3 billion offering last year. By Business Writer Stephen Bernard.
IPO MARKET
NEW YORK—There is growing evidence that the market for initial public offerings is rebounding after essentially disappearing at the height of the credit crisis as two new issues raised a combined $10 billion Wednesday. However, analysts say the market’s re-emergence isn’t open to every company, and that only the strong can successfully launch stock sales right now. By Business Writer Stephen Bernard.
SPORTS:
FBC–T25-NEBRASKA-NO BLACKSHIRTS
LINCOLN, Neb.—Say “Blackshirts” to a college football fan, and it conjures up images of the punishing Nebraska defenses of yesteryear. The nickname dates to the 1960s and is derived from the color of the jerseys defensive starters have traditionally worn at practice. Over time, Blackshirts came to represent excellence, not to mention a marketing opportunity for the university’s athletic department. By Eric Olson.
T25-NEBRASKA-MISSOURI
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The chance to show off a resurgent Missouri football program to a national TV audience was simply too tempting to pass up for Tiger coach Gary Pinkel. Thursday’s midweek matchup between No. 21 Nebraska (3-1) and No. 24 Missouri (4-0) means the eyes of college football nation will squarely focus on the 103rd meeting of the Big 12 North rivals. By Alan Scher Zagier.
With:
— T25-NEBRASKA-MISSOURI PREVIEW
ALSO:
— T25-NEBRASKA-PELINI PRANK?—Some Nebraska fans are anxious after Nebraska coach Bo Pelini indicated on his Twitter account that he’s going to miss Thursday night’s game at Missouri because of the flu.
— NEBRASKA-GRIFFIN—Nebraska senior Kelsey Griffin has been named to the preseason All-Big 12 team for the third consecutive season.
— NEBRASKA PREP RATINGS—The Associated Press Nebraska high school football rankings in Classes A through D2.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— MILITARY VOTING—U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson is lauding Senate support of a measure he helped write to make it easier for military service members overseas to vote in federal elections.
— AIRPORT DISAPPEARANCE—Family members of a Lincoln woman believed missing after a trip to Syria say police have told them she’s been found and is safe.
The AP, Omaha.
