Business Briefs Star-Bulletin staff and wire services

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HAWAII

Hawaii health care help ranks low

Hawaii is among the 10 worst states in providing government health insurance assistance, according to a report released yesterday.

Hawaii ranked among the 10 least-funded states for Medicaid programs, at 44th, with Medicaid payment per participant in 2005 at $4,051. California came in last, at $2,701. Washington, D.C., ranked at top at $7,941 for Medicaid payments, followed by New York and Alaska.

The nonprofit Foundation for Health Coverage Education cites data provided by the Kaiser Family Health Foundation to identify how programs differ in each state, with rankings available on www.statehealthfacts.org.

Colliers wins big school contract

Colliers Monroe Friedlander Inc. has won a large contract to manage 32 retail, office and industrial properties for Kamehameha Schools.

The state's largest private land owner's portfolio totals more than 2.1 million square feet and includes properties in Kahala, Moiliili, Kapalama and Kakaako, as well as the Keauhou Shopping Center in Kona on the Big Island.

Colliers, whose existing properties total 5 million square feet, already manages some of Kamehameha's portfolio.

Kamehameha Schools said the new arrangement allows it to consolidate its commercial portfolio and retain a single property management firm to help in the properties' daily and strategic operations.

Isle software firm gets contract

Blue Cliff Inc., a Hawaii-based software development company, said yesterday it has formed a sales and marketing partnership with Dallas-based iMedica Corp., a developer of healthcare software.

Under the agreement, Blue Cliff will sell iMedica's electronic medical record software to physicians in Hawaii.

Pacific LightNet launches system

Pacific LightNet, a Honolulu-based telecommunications firm, said this week that it is launching the state's first voice and Internet business service.

The system will allow businesses simplify voice and high-speed Internet service into one broadband connection, designed to carry data using Voice over Internet Protocol systems.

Pearl City Gateway blessing today

Robertson Properties Group is holding a blessing ceremony today with Mayor Mufi Hannemann at 9 a.m. to celebrate the start of construction on the new Pearl City Gateway shopping center.

The development will be built on 13.5 acres with 313,426 square feet of retail space expected to open in fall 2009.

Kapahulu Center gets grant

First Hawaiian Bank has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Kapahulu Center for use in a renovation project to accommodate physically challenged individuals. The nonprofit center offers programs for seniors, including health and wellness workshops and financial planning seminars.

NATION

Fees, trading lift Schwab's net

NEW YORK » Charles Schwab Corp., the nation's largest discount brokerage, said yesterday stronger fees and trading levels helped drive second-quarter profit growth despite choppy market conditions.

Schwab earned $295 million, or 26 cents a share, compared with $292 million, or 23 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue rose 9 percent to $1.31 billion from $1.21 billion.

EBay profit rises, but outlook soft

NEW YORK >> EBay Inc. said yesterday that its second-quarter profit jumped 22 percent, as the online auction company enjoyed strong growth in its e-commerce sites and its PayPal payments service.

But eBay's outlook for the current quarter was softer than analysts had been forecasting, and the auction company's shares fell 6.6 percent in after-hours trading. The stock had gained 4.5 percent in regular trading to close at $28.10.

San Jose, Calif.-based eBay earned $460 million, or 35 cents a share, compared with $376 million, or 27 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.

BRIEF CASE

BLOOMBERG BUYOUT: Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to buy Merrill Lynch's 20 percent stake in Bloomberg LP, the financial news and data company he founded, for about $4.5 billion, people briefed on the deal said yesterday afternoon.

HIGH-TECH WORLD: Computer shipments rose faster than expected in the second quarter, fueled by exceptional demand in emerging markets and a decline in prices in the U.S. and Western Europe.

FENDING OFF: Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho's company finally began trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange after years of delays as he tries to fend off challenges from American newcomers in the Chinese gambling enclave.

New hires

» American Savings Bank has announced the following appointments:

* Beth Whitehead as executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel. She was the assistant general counsel and senior vice president at First Horizon National Corp.

* Ray Skinner as executive vice president, consumer banking. He has 21 years of related experience.