Reddit co-founder to keynote at Sloss Tech 2019 in August
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian will be the keynote speaker Aug. 2 at Sloss Tech 2019. Ohanian, 36, dubbed “Mayor of the Internet,” also founded Initialized Capital and helped launch the travel search website Hipmunk. Ohanian started Reddit with Steve Huffman in 2005 before selling it to Condé Nast. – AL.com
Protective Life closes $1.2B deal to acquire Great-West business
Protective Life Corporation, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, announced Tuesday that its principal subsidiary, Protective Life Insurance Company, has completed a transaction with Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company to acquire via reinsurance substantially all of its individual life and annuity business. The transaction is expected to represent a capital investment by Protective of approximately $1.2 billion, its largest acquisition to date. – Yahoo
Lenders sustain nearly $700K in losses from Alabama fraud scheme
As the National Automotive Finance Association gears up for the “Fraud Friday” portion of its annual conference this week, federal prosecutors recently sentenced an Alabama man, Gene Earl Easterling, posing as an independent dealer to 63 months of imprisonment for bank fraud, mail fraud and drug charges as part of a scheme that cost auto finance companies nearly $700,000. – Auto Remarketing
Gulf of Mexico Alliance to discuss progress Wednesday
The maritime museum will host executives of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) on Wednesday for a press conference at 9 a.m. GOMA Executive Director Laura Bowie will review the history of the organization, its broad coalition of partnerships, and the priority issues currently being addressed. She will also provide details on the 2019 “All Hands” annual meeting and workshops taking place at the Lodge at Gulf State Park June10-13. – News release
Maaco announces regional growth plans through South
Maaco, the nation’s largest paint and collision repair franchise, announced today a strategic regional growth initiative targeting more than 20 key existing markets in the Southeast, including Mobile. The proactive resale strategy will launch the brand into a new era, creating a stronger presence to support the company’s mission of restoring the safety and appearance of millions of vehicles. – News release
JLR and BMW to collaborate on electric vehicles
Jaguar Land Rover and BMW are to work together on developing electric car powertrains for the next generation of EVs. The companies behind the I-Pace and i3 electric cars have elected to join forces on developing new Electric Drive Units (EDUs) – in effect, everything that takes electricity from batteries and gets it through to the wheels on the road. – Auto Express
