Business Briefing

REGIONAL NEWS

Boeing wins $2 billion Air Force wing contract

The Boeing Co., the second-largest U.S. military contractor, won an Air Force award valued at as much as $2.02 billion to replace cracking wings on aging A-10 anti-tank aircraft, beating larger rival Lockheed Martin Corp.

The work will be done by Boeing's McDonnell Douglas subsidiary and calls for as many as 242 replacement wings. The contract is scheduled to be completed by September 2018, the Defense Department said Friday.

Symetra Financial of Bellevue set to make public offering

Bellevue-based Symetra Financial Corp. said it has filed the paperwork necessary to make an initial public offering of its stock. If the IPO occurs, shares would be traded under the symbol SYA on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company, owned by an investor group led by White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc., provides retirement plans, employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through independent advisers and agents.

It said it has about $20 billion in assets.

Expedia says stock buyback may push debt to $4 billion

Expedia Inc., the Internet travel agency run by Barry Diller, said its debt level may increase eightfold after a planned share buyback.

Expedia's debt would climb to $4.07 billion from $500 million if the company repurchases all 116.7 million shares at its maximum proposed price of $30 each, the Bellevue-based company said Friday in a filing.

Seattle law firm will change name to reflect departure

The Seattle law firm of Buck & Gordon LLP said it will change its name Sunday to GordonDerr LLP, to reflect the departure of founding partner Peter Buck. Buck's new firm will be called The Buck Law Group PLLC.

In a news release, the firms said Buck's departure was amicable.

Electronic signature, password firms team up

Seattle electronic signature company DocuSign Inc. announced a partnership Thursday with BioPassword Inc., an Issaquah company, to combine services to better verify customer identity when e-signing documents. BioPassword makes software that verifies identity by analyzing typing rhythm, passwords and user-selected questions and answers.

WORLD NEWS

Airbus to fill large order for TAM Linhas Aereas of Brazil

PARIS -- Airbus said Friday that Brazilian carrier TAM Linhas Aereas has ordered 22 Airbus A350-XWBs, a boost for the European plane maker's rival to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

TAM is also ordering four additional A330-200s, Airbus said. The purchase agreement came in the form of a memorandum of understanding.

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