Morning Links: 11 November 2008

Moody's cuts O'Charley's debt, iPayment gains highlight raft of earnings, Nissan's 'multi-purpose utility' concept, and more...

Email | Print By Geert De Lombaerde

Ratings agency Moody's lowered its opinion of more than $220 million of O'Charley's debt and said it is concerned about "the likely persistence of adverse conditions" for the restaurant operator.

There were earnings reports from local companies all over Monday afternoon: Healthcare Realty's profits were flat, as were those at First Acceptance. At BioMimetic, losses more than tripled while iPayment posted a 10 percent gain. And at National Health Investors, income from continuing operations was down 5 percent from a year ago after taking into account a $21 million one-time gain in 2007.

Also in iPayment's 10-Q is a note that CEO Greg Daily and President Carl Grimstad will not renew their employment agreements, but will begin serving at will next February. Search for 'November 10.'

Nissan has unveiled a concept car that could hit the commercial market in 2010.

Nate Rau writes about a recent mass transit fact-finding trip to Cleveland by local officials.

As its local leaders restart negotiations with the machinists union, Vought Aircraft has laid off more workers in South Carolina. 

Mark Bright, who has produced albums for Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts, has been named president and CEO of Word Entertainment, the Chrisitan arm of Warner Bros. Records.

Regional construction veteran James Wright died Saturday. Wright Bros. Construction has helped build a good number of the region's roads and new residential and retail projects.