Banner Supply Company

Display Ad Consolidation: Collective Acquires Tumri

In essence, this deal, which was first reported by AdExchanger , is more similar to the Yahoo’s acquisition of Dapper, which lets advertisers automatically show ads that match a visitor’s behavior, location or interests.

The companies in the ad space, whether SSPs or ad networks, which is what Collective began as before evolving into a more general provider of services to publisher and advertisers, are all increasingly going head-to-head as the big names get bigger.

For example, Amazon ( NSDQ: AMZN ) recently began expanding its retargeting programs as it seeks to offer display ad services to outside publishers and advertisers. Retargeting is the latest area display companies like Collective have been concentrating on as well with its “lookalike” targeting. (With retargeting, consumers who go to a marketers’ website and check out merchandise without making a purchase, are sent ads from the marketer on other sites they visit in hopes of convincing them to come back and buy something. As for “lookalike” targeting, it’s based on the obvious notion that certain types of consumers who share specific characteristics—say, being a 29-year-old mother or a 40-year-old cycling enthusiast) are apt to engage in similar online activities that can serve as a basis for targeted ads.)

Collective’s acquisition of Tumri, terms of which were undisclosed, comes down to a basic need that publishers want from ad tech firms: better optimization of their ad inventory.

Florida Homeowners To Get $55 Million For Bad Drywall : Insurance ...

A U.S. supplier of constructions supplied has agreed to a $55 million settlement to reimburse up to 800 Florida homeowners for bad drywall manufactured in China and installed in their homes during the past five years.

Attorneys representing the Banner Supply Company accepted the settlement offer that must be approved by a federal judge in charge of lawsuits regarding faulty Chinese drywall. Although accepting the settlement terms, Banner officials said the ultimate liability lies with a Germany-based buildings supplies conglomerate, the Knauf Group. Officials for the Knauf Group allegedly lied to Banner Supply officials when confronted about potentially bad drywall, claiming the drywall had been tested and approved. Based on that information, Banner officials signed a legal agreement releasing Knauf of liability, only to later learn the tests allegedly confirmed the imported drywall was bad.

The drywall primarily was installed in new and damaged homes along the Gulf Coast after several hurricanes battered Florida in 2004 and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast a year later, inflicting tens of billions of dollars in damages. Many homeowners later complained of foul smells and occasional illness, and subsequent tests indicated much of the drywall imported from China contained potentially corrosive hydrogen sulfides.

Officials for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently issued a report recommending homeowners remove all traces of Chinese drywall and replace all electrical wiring and components, gas piping, fire-suppression systems and any smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors. The preventive, yet very costly, maintenance is designed to protect homes against potentially corrosive compounds found in thousands of U.S. homes equipped with Chinese drywall.

Already blamed for millions of dollars in damages to U.S. homes caused by bad drywall, Chinese drywall firms have rebuffed efforts by President Barack Obama’s administration to get compensation for affected homeowners. Although Chinese drywall has been blamed, scientists for Sandia National Laboratories recently studied the possible effects of hydrogen sulfide gas on electrical wiring and other parts commonly found in walls of homes. After creating what would be equal to about 40 years exposure to the gas some Chinese drywall has been accused of emitting, scientists determined there were no long-term safety issues but still agree with federal guidelines for replacing potentially affected components.

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