FOR THE
              RECORD        

      By Leila Marija Ugincius

This report is compiled from company releases, business journals and newspapers from around the state. If you have an item for these listings, mail it to Leila Marija Ugincius at VIRGINIA BUSINESS, 411 E. Franklin St., Suite 105, Richmond, Va. 23219, e-mail it to ForTheRecord@va-business. com, or fax it to (804) 649-6311.

Dan River Inc., a Danville-based manufacturer of textile products, plans to purchase The New Cherokee Corp., a fabric manufacturer, for $65 million.

Dimon Inc., a Danville tobacco and flower company, entered into preliminary discussions to acquire Intabex Holdings Worldwide S.A., a tobacco dealer in the United Kingdom. Terms were not disclosed.

The Eastern Group Inc., an Alexandria-based energy company, plans to purchase Diamond Energy of N.Y. Inc., a natural gas provider, and EOF Inc., a New Hampshire-based energy-services company, for undisclosed amounts.

Eurotherm Controls Inc., a Reston supplier of temperature controls, purchased Continental Industries, an Arizona relay-manufacturing company, for an undisclosed amount.

Home Beneficial Corp., a Richmond life insurance company, is being acquired by Houston-based American General Corp. for $665 million.

The Polizos Agency of Norfolk merged with the Virginia Beach public relations agency Ad-Ventures to form The Meridian Group-Marketing Communications.

DIVESTITURES, CUTBACKS & CLOSINGS

Reynolds Metals Co. of Richmond plans to sell its home-building operations to Raleigh, N.C.-based AmeriMark Inc. in an effort to cut costs. Terms were not disclosed.

Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield of Richmond plans to eliminate 276 jobs in the Richmond and Roanoke areas as part of a restructuring plan designed to cut costs. The insurance company’s new structure will focus on geographically-based local markets, says Brooke Taylor, a Trigon spokeswoman. Taylor says the cuts, designed to make the insurer more competitive, are not related to the company’s recent public offering. She adds that of the 276 positions being cut, 66 are already vacant. The company hopes to eliminate another 70 jobs through attrition.

AMP Inc., a Harrisburg, Pa., manufacturer of computer connection devices, plans to close its Roanoke plant and lay off about 450 people.

NEW PLANTS AND COMPANIES

Boise Cascade Office Products Corp., a Chicago-based office products distributor, plans to locate a customer call center in an 80,000-square-foot shell building in Bristol.

EXPANSIONS

Barber and Ross Millwork Co., a Leesburg-based manufacturer of doors, windows and railings, plans to open a $4 million plant in Richmond, employing 200.

Circuit City Stores Inc., a Richmond-based home electronics retailer, plans to open 15 superstores in the New York City area by the end of the year.

Gateway 2000, a South Dakota-based computer manufacturer, plans to add a $2 million customer-call center to its Hampton facility, creating 300 jobs.

EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS

Wade Hotsenpiller, COO, Allstate Financial Corp. of Arlington.

Kenneth W. McVey, president and CEO, Fuisz International Ltd., a subsidiary of Chantilly-based Fuisz Technologies Ltd.

Ross O. Richardson, president, McKenzie Owen Inc., a Richmond public relations firm.

CONTRACTS

Institute for International Research, Arlington: $16.3 million from the Agency for International Development for an education activity study.

Potomac Valley Custodial Services Inc., Alexandria: $5.3 million from the Internal Revenue Service for custodial services.

Science Applications International Corp., McLean: $12 million from the Environmental Protection Agency for pollution prevention support.

DEALS

USAir, an Arlington-based airline, is ending its three-year affiliation with its biggest investor, British Airways. The London airline plans to sell its interest in USAir and pursue a new affiliation with American Airlines, one of two U.S. airlines with access to London’s main airport. British Airways’ 25 percent stake in USAir is worth more than $400 million. British Airways decided to end the alliance after the Arlington carrier filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the British airline for pursuing a pact with its competitor.

ETS International Inc., a Roanoke-based provider of environmental services, plans to allow South Korea-based Jindo Engineering and Construction Co. to manufacture and sell its ETS Limestone Emission Control System in South Korea.

Medical College of Virginia Hospitals Authority and Bon Secours Richmond Health System approved a five-year agreement to partner in areas such as home and hospice care, education and patient care in central Virginia.

DIRECTORS

Thomas L. Ashbridge IV, Scott & Stringfellow Inc., a Richmond stock brokerage.

Gerald L. Baliles, Newport News Shipbuilding.

Harry W. Buckley, Jackson Hewitt Inc., a Virginia Beach-based tax-preparation service.

Leon A. Edney, Newport News Shipbuilding.

William P. Fricks, chairman, Newport News Shipbuilding. William R. Harvey, Newport News Shipbuilding.

Michael E. Julian, Jackson Hewitt. Kenneth W. McVey, Fuisz Technologies. T. Carter Melton Jr., The Rockingham Group, a Harrisonburg group of insurance companies.

Robert C. Wilburn, Crestar Financial Corp. in Richmond Stephen R. Wilson, Newport News Shipbuilding.