Tuesday, September 23, 1997

Family Business Awards nominations due Oct. 1

By DOUG WILLIAMSON / Business Editor

The McMurry University Family Business Center is accepting nominations for the annual Excellence in Family Business Awards program.

Deadline for the nominations is Oct. 1.

The two-year-old award program recognizes and honors family-owned businesses in the Abilene and Big Country area. The four awards are:

-- Excellence in Business Management.

-- Excellence in Community Service.

-- Excellence in Family Values.

-- Total Excellence in Family Business.

The award winners become eligible for submission to the Massachusetts Mutual National Family Business Awards Program.

For more information, contact Dr. James Myers, 691-6396.

Zoltek stock continues rise

Stock in Zoltek Inc. skyrocketed again Monday following a positive mention in Business Week.

The stock which sagged to $21 in March closed at $61.625 Monday. Catherine Lawson, CEO of Highland Investment Group, predicted in the weekly business magazine that stock in the carbon-fiber manufacturer would hit $75 within a year.

Analysts project earnings of 73-cents a share, but Lawson expects closer to 85 cents, growing to $1.30-$1.40 next year.

Zoltek's Abilene factory will begin production in a few days.

Look out for faux faxes

The Abilene Better Business Bureau says a false rumor about Gerber Products Co. has surfaced through faxes.

People are receiving faxes stating that Gerber is reimbursing customers who purchased Enfamil and Similac baby formulas. The class-action settlement does not include Texans. It is only with 16 other states, said Steve Abel of the BBB.

In other business news...

-- A.G. Edwards Inc., an investment firm with an office in Abilene, is reporting record results. Revenues, net earnings and earnings per share for the quarter and six months were up.

Second quarter net earnings were $69.2 million, or $1.02 per share, up 32.6 percent from a year ago. Revenue of $509.8 million was up 25 percent.