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A leading provider of title insurance, technology and transaction services to the real estate and mortgage industries, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. ( FNF ) inked a deal to acquire BPG Holdings, LLC. Notably, closure of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval, which includes the State of California Department of Insurance.

BPG Holdings is an acknowledged home warranty, home inspection services and commercial inspections leader, the merger of which with Fidelity National Home Warranty would result in the formation of California's largest home warranty company. Moreover, the takeover will increase Fidelity National Financial's Texas-based market shares while catering to other states, thereby expanding its portfolio.

This combination would also help Fidelity National Home Warranty to increase its presence globally, providing it with a platform for future growth.

Acquisitions and partnerships have been key growth catalysts for Fidelity National Financial, which have strengthened the company's existing lines of businesses for some time. Since 2010, it has acquired eight companies, including Lender Processing Services, Inc. ( LPS ), J. Alexander's Corporation and O'Charley's Inc. ( CHUX ), thereby significantly expanding Fidelity National Financial's product portfolio.

Notably, Fidelity National Financial's strong liquidity position cushions its inorganic growth.

With respect to earnings performance, the company delivered positive earnings surprises in three of the last four quarters with trailing four-quarter average surprise of 10.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2014 and 2015 are currently pegged at $1.70 and $2.21, respectively. The long-term goal is 14.10%.

Zacks Rank

Fidelity National Financial holds Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the property and casualty insurance sector is AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. ( AFSI ), which sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

AMTRUST FIN SVC (AFSI): Free Stock Analysis Report

FNF GROUP (FNF): Free Stock Analysis Report

Excerpt from:
Fidelity National Financial (FNF) to Acquire BPG Holdings - Analyst Blog

You may have read that we are in for a tough tax season what with delays because of Congress not getting around to the extenders and IRS budget cuts. Well. Thats not all. Tangible property is of course stuff like automobiles and computers and buildings all sorts of stuff.

Outside of fairly specialized areas like equipment leasing , the biggest impact of the regulations is in the area of buildings both for landlords and tenants who have made improvements. There are some businesses that dont involve being either a landlord or a tenant in a building but not a very high percentage. Buildings are what may be yielding the refunds of biblical proportions that I discussed with Michael Greenwald of Friedman LLP. Friedman LLP is located at 1700 Broadway in Manhattan surrounded by some of the big buildings that may be yielding big refunds thanks to the new regulations. But what about the hellish part, you may ask?

Remember The AT&T Breakup?

In 1984 the Bell System, which was something of a monopoly of telephone service was broken up by a divestiture of AT&T. When a company divests it distributes stock in companies that it owns. It can be a tax-free transaction which requires disclosure by shareholders and an allocation of basis among the various assets. Well, everybody owned stock in AT&T and typically they had acquired it over a period of years. So just about everybody had a complicated return that year. The phase-in of the passive activity loss rules after the Tax Reform Act of 1986 was a similar horror show. These regulations promise a similar flurry.

Have you ever heard of Form 3115? Go ahead and take a look at the eight page form, thats why I gave you a link. Now take a look at the twenty pages of instructions. Scroll to the very end where there is an estimate of the burden that the form puts on the taxpayers as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Check out what Christian Wood wrote in the Journal of Accountancy.

With the new regulations effective for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014, For example, taxpayers will need to file a Form 3115 to adopt the materials-and-supplies provision or file an election statement to use the de minimis rules. Failure to include the Form 3115 or election statement may indicate either an unauthorized accounting method change (one that did not obtain the IRSs required consent) or the taxpayers noncompliance with the final regulations.

Now I have read the repair regulations a few times without that dawning on me. That JOA article was back in February, but I have peculiar reading habits for a tax practitioner. I try to look at all the original source material to find interesting stories for my blog, so I got my wake-up call about just about everybody who is not a pure W-2 working stiff having to file Form 3115 at the Wolter Kluwer User Conference in Orlando.

The instructor indicated that if we did not join in with other practitioners in launching a tsunami of accounting method change forms on the IRS, dire consequences awaited us and out clients. Now any conference that includes a trip to Universal Studios for two haunted house experience one based on aliens and the other based on the movie Dracula and an inspirational speech by someone from a reality TV show

deserves a bit of skepticism.

Link:
Repair Regs - A Hellish Tax Season And Refunds Of Biblical Magnitude

CHANNAHON Channahon village trustees are looking into setting up a program that would offer low-interest loans to local businesses that want to make improvements in their facilities.

Qualifying projects could include faade improvements, new awnings, signage, architectural details such as cornices, new doors and windows, rooftop mechanical screening, and repair or replacement of building systems such as heating, cooling and electrical.

The village made its first foray into lending to businesses when it loaned $36,447 to Lone Star Restaurant last month in a five-year, 1.8 percent interest agreement. Lone Star owners plan to make a major changeover from its current sewage septic system to the village sewer.

Trustees agreed establishing a formal program for other businesses that might be interested in bettering the appearances or function of their buildings would be good for business and good for Channahon. Village Administrator Thomas Durkin presented a first draft of the new Business Improvement Program to trustees Monday at the village board meeting.

Maximum loan amounts, interest and other parameters were not spelled out in the draft, but Durkin said one possibility is for the loans to provide up to 50 percent of the costs of qualifying projects. The dollars available could be set in each years budget when funds are available and would be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applicants would have to demonstrate a need for participation in the program and provide at least two detailed quotes from bonded contractors licensed in Channahon.

The funds may not be available every year, or they may be reduced on occasion, Durkin said.

Durkin added that, besides Lone Star, no businesses have approached him yet requesting low-interest loans for improvements.

It also was announced Monday the Channahon Tree Lighting Event will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in conjunction with Three Rivers Public Library. This free event will be held at the Channahon Village Hall, 24555 S. Navajo Dr., and will include a visit and pictures with Santa Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides, music from the Channahon Junior High School band and cookies and hot chocolate.

A portion of Navajo Drive will be closed for the event. Those attending may park at the village hall parking lot or at Saint Ann Catholic Church.

Follow this link:
Channahon considering loan program for local businesses

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There are several ways to install rain gutters on a home, but not all of them are ultimately beneficial. Improperly installed gutters can lead to wood rot as well as falling gutters, rendering what should be a beneficial addition to your home as a liability.

Its very important that rain gutters always be installed behind the drip edge to ensure proper capturing of rainwater. Installing gutters on top of roof flashing may be easier and quicker, but improperly installed rain gutters can actually do more damage than good. Rain gutters installed on top of roof flashing leave space for rainwater to splash behind the gutters onto the homes fascia. This water, protected from wind and sun, rots the fascia and eventually leads to costly home repairs. If rain gutters are properly installed behind the drip edge, the only place for water to go is down the gutter and away from your home.

Downspouts are enclosed, vertical pieces of guttering that carry water from the rain gutter to the ground. In order to keep a downspout in place, it must be secured to the side of the home with the use of straps. It is important to secure straps to the brick, not the mortar between bricks, because it creates a more secure, enduring hold. Mortar deteriorates over time causing downspouts to come loose, which can create leaks and even fall down.

Phillips installs gutters behind the drip edge, and we even place gutter hangers every 2 feet to provide sufficient support during heavy rains. Phillips also anchors downspout straps into the brick, making your overall installation more secure. In fact, Phillips even uses larger screws that exceed industry standards, all of which adds up to confidence in your rain gutters installation. This is why Phillips offers a limited lifetime warranty.

See the Phillips difference first hand by scheduling a FREE estimate today. You can call or use the estimate request form on our site.

Excerpt from:
Gutter Installation | Phillips Gutters