Briefs – October 2005

• Trans European Securities International LLP, a European consortium, is set to acquire American Stone Corp. for $30 million. The purchase includes 900 acres of real estate in Lorain County, Ohio, that the consortium plans to develop as a leisure resort. The company will also continue to operate Cleveland Quarries, one of the world’s largest sandstone operations.
• The Solid Surface International Expo changed its name to the Surface Fabrication & Design Expo. Cygnus Expositions, the event’s owner, noted the name change comes as it diversifies the show to include material and fabrication products for solid-surface, engineered-stone and natural-stone products. The expo will continue to work closely with co-sponsor International Solid Surface Fabricators Association (ISSFA) on the event, now scheduled March 16-18, 2006, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.
• Rashid Mohamed Rashid, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry, said that the Egyptian government is considering the offering of new facilities for solving problems facing the country’s marble and granite industry to help increase its investments and competitiveness. ArabicNews.com reports that the ministry aims to boost marble and granite exports up to $550 million from its current $225 million.
• Brazen burglars: The Gardnerville, Nev., Record Courier reports that two granite slabs, each weighing 1,000 pounds, were reported stolen Sept. 2 from a local home site. Also missing was the flatbed trailer used to transport the slabs to the site. The owner said the total loss was $4,600.