Business briefs 8/3/04

Eastman Kodak Co. faces diversity lawsuit

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A lawsuit claims Eastman Kodak Co. -- lauded as a top company for minorities -- unfairly distributed raises to women and black workers and required them to waive their right to sue as a condition of receiving pay increases and promotions. According to the federal discrimination lawsuit filed Friday, Rochester-based Eastman Kodak was more concerned about protecting itself from employee lawsuits than helping about 2,000 workers when it awarded around $13 million in raises to blacks and women in 1999.

Manufacturing activity increases again in July

NEW YORK -- U.S. manufacturing expanded for the 14th consecutive month in July, boosted by new orders and higher production, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday. The institute said its manufacturing index registered 62.0 last month, up from 61.1 in June. That was in line with the consensus forecast of analysts. An index reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below 50 indicates that manufacturing activity is contracting. The gauge has been above 50 since June of last year. "The manufacturing sector continues to grow at a rapid rate," Norbert J. Ore, chairman of the institute's survey committee, said in a statement accompanying the report. "The growth of new orders and production accelerated during the month, adding strength to the index."

Cox Enterprises acquires Cox Communications

ATLANTA -- Cox Enterprises Inc. announced a $7.9 billion proposal Monday to buy all publicly held shares of Cox Communications Inc. and take the nation's fourth largest cable television provider private. Shares of Cox Communications surged more than 20 percent. The proposed move would make Atlanta-based Cox Communications a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, which is a private company that owns newspapers and telecommunications services. Cox Communications, which has about 6.3 million cable customers, would continue to operate as an autonomous business entity, and no major changes or layoffs are expected, said Cox Enterprises spokesman Bob Jimenez. Cox Radio Inc. will remain a publicly traded company, he said.

-- From wire reports