Johnson Controls honors leading automotive suppliers at North American Supplier Performance Awards ceremony

News Release:

Johnson Controls honors leading automotive suppliers at North American Supplier Performance Awards ceremony

Gold, silver and bronze awards handed out for commitment to excellence in 2014

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Oct.1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty four automotive suppliers are being recognized by Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company, for their leadership and continuous quality performance. The suppliers were honored during Johnson Controls' 19^thannual North American Supplier Performance Awards ceremony held inPlymouth, Mich.

"Through dedication, focus and hard work, our suppliers help us meet the demands of global customers and we are honored to recognize those suppliers who deliver a high level of performance," said Kelly Bysouth, group vice president, global purchasing.

The company's suppliers are recognized for top performance in the areas of quality, cost, logistics, development, technology and service. Johnson Controls' Automotive Seating North American Supplier Performance Awards are presented in three levels – gold, silver and bronze.

The Gold 2014 Supplier Performance Award recipients were:

• EDS Manufacturing, Inc.                                Nogales, Arizona
• Gentherm                                                         Northville, Michigan
• Global Enterprises                                         Huntington Woods,Michigan
• Kenwal Steel Corp.                                        Dearborn, Michigan
• Petoskey Plastics                                           Petoskey, Michigan
• PTX                                                                    Clemmons, North Carolina
• Unique Fabricating                                         Auburn Hills, Michigan

Silver 2014 Supplier Performance Award recipients were:

• Alex Products                                                 Ridgeville Corners, Ohio
• Anderson-Cook                                             Auburn Hills, Michigan
• BASF                                                                Florham Park, New Jersey

Bronze 2014 Supplier Performance Award recipients were:

• Bayer Material Science                                  Leverkusen, Germany
• Beach Mold & Tool                                         New Albany, Indiana
• BILSTEIN                                                          Hagen, Germany
• CNI, Inc.                                                            Auburn Hills, Michigan
• Continental Midland                                       Park Forest, Illinois                            
• Fujikura Automotive America, LLC              Detroit, Michigan
• HFI, LLC                                                           Canal Winchester, Ohio
• Huntsman                                                        The Woodlands, Texas
• Kent Manufacturing Company                      Grand Rapids, Michigan
• MultiTech Industries                                       Carol Stream, Illinois
• Royal Technologies                                        Hudsonville, Michigan
• West Michigan Molding, Inc.                          Grand Haven, Michigan

Additionally, Johnson Controls Automotive Seating presented four leadership awards in the following areas:

Sustainability – BASF Corporation, Florham, New Jersey

Continuous Improvement – Automatic Spring Products, Inc., Grand Haven, Michigan

Continuous Improvement – Beach Mold & Tool, New Albany, Indiana

Minority Business Development– E & E Manufacturing, Plymouth, Michigan

About Johnson Controls:Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

About Johnson Controls Automotive Seating:Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive seating, overhead systems, floor consoles, door panels and instrument panels. We support all major automakers in the differentiation of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With more than 220 plants worldwide, we are where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort and style of our products, from single components to complete interiors. With our global capability, we supply approximately 50 million cars per year.

SOURCE Johnson Controls

Alcoa to Host Webcast of Third Quarter 2014 Results

Alcoa News Release:


October 1, 2014
Alcoa to Host Webcast of Third Quarter 2014 Results
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa (NYSE:AA) will hold a conference call on Wednesday, October 8 beginning at 5:00 p.m. EDT to discuss third quarter 2014 results and business developments. The conference call will be webcast live via Alcoa's website, www.alcoa.com, with presentation materials available online at 4:15 p.m. EDT.

Conference Call Information

Time:		5:00 – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Hosts:		Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
		William Oplinger, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Call:		(877) 415 3180
		+ 1 (857) 244 7323 (International)
		Pass Code:
		19924648
		To avoid a delay in start time, please dial-in beginning at 4:45 p.m. EDT
Webcast:		Invest section of the Alcoa website to listen and view slides only.

Note: Adobe Flash 9 or higher is required. Please refer to thesystem check to verify that your computer meets the system requirements. Click here if you need the latest version of Adobe Flash.

Replay Information

A replay of the call will be available from 10:00 p.m. EDT on October 8 until October 22 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Replay:		(888) 286 8010
		+ 1 (617) 801 6888 (International)
		Pass Code: 64145517 or at Quarterly Earnings Presentations on our website.

About Alcoa

A global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and manufacturing, Alcoa innovates multi-material solutions that advance our world. Our technologies enhance transportation, from automotive and commercial transport to air and space travel, and improve industrial and consumer electronics products. We enable smart buildings, sustainable food and beverage packaging, high-performance defense vehicles across air, land and sea, deeper oil and gas drilling and more efficient power generation. We pioneered the aluminum industry over 125 years ago, and today, our 60,000 people in 30 countries deliver value-add products made of titanium, nickel and aluminum, and produce best-in-class bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum products. For more information, visitwww.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoaand follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.

UnitedHealthcare Introduces 2015 Medicare Plans

UnitedHealth Group News Release:

UnitedHealthcare Introduces 2015 Medicare Plans

• Supporting Medicare beneficiaries’ health and well-being through collaboration with physicians, access to primary care and wellness support

MINNETONKA, Minn. (October 01, 2014) — 

UnitedHealthcare, the market leader in Medicare, today introduced its 2015 Medicare health and prescription drug plans, designed to be affordable, maintain the benefits that matter most to consumers, and maximize savings for members.

All of its Medicare Advantage plans will continue to offer people good value for their health care dollar, providing access to benefits, services and features that they won’t find with Original Medicare.

Among these features is an out-of-pocket maximum that can give beneficiaries the peace of mind of knowing that their yearly health care costs are capped. Most plans will continue to include prescription drug coverage, giving members access to medications without having to pay a separate premium for a stand-alone Part D plan.

In 2015, the company has increased the number of medications on tier 1 of the formulary for its Medicare Advantage-Part D plans, meaning many of the medications most commonly used by Medicare beneficiaries will be available for a lower copay. The generic versions of Lipitor, Synthroid, Actos, Coumadin, Fosamax, Singulair and 72 other drugs will move to tier 1. More than half of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage-Part D members use at least one medication that is moving into a lower tier of the formulary and will be available for a lower copay in 2015.*

UnitedHealthcare has also lowered the prices available through its Pharmacy Saver program in 2015, allowing Medicare Advantage members to save even more money on their medications. Simply by showing their member ID card at pharmacies participating in the program, members can access select generic medications for as low as $1.50 per 30-day prescription.

The company will offer a choice of Medicare Advantage plans designed to meet a variety of beneficiary needs and preferences, including plans with monthly premiums that offer additional features or lower cost-sharing. The majority of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage members – nearly 60 percent – will see no change to their monthly premium in 2015.* More than 22 million Medicare beneficiaries in the company’s 2015 coverage area, including three-quarters of its current Medicare Advantage members, will have access to a standard UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 premium beyond the Medicare Part B premium.*

Working with Physicians to Improve Members’ Health and Lower Their Costs

UnitedHealthcare is committed to collaborating closely with doctors to enhance care coordination and encourage better health outcomes for members. As an example of this commitment, UnitedHealthcare will introduce more Medicare Advantage plans with networks that consist largely of care providers affiliated with one hospital or health system, including Healthcare Solutions Network in the Cincinnati area and Northern Kentucky, and Illinois Health Partners in DuPage County, comprised of physicians affiliated with DuPage Medical Group and Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare.

UnitedHealthcare’s focus on collaboration extends more broadly to its full Medicare Advantage care provider network. More than 1.8 million of the company’s Medicare Advantage members are treated by physicians who actively participate in UnitedHealthcare’s programs designed to encourage higher-quality health care.* The company is committed to growing that number in the years ahead through further engagement with the physician community.

Connecting Members with Care to Help Them Live Healthier Lives

In 2015, UnitedHealthcare will continue to offer its Medicare Advantage members opportunities to access important health care services that otherwise wouldn’t be available to them through Original Medicare.

All of the company’s standard Medicare Advantage plans will cover routine vision and hearing care as well as an annual physical, above and beyond the annual wellness visit available through Original Medicare, to encourage members to build relationships with their primary care physician and get recommended screenings and preventive care services.

To supplement the care from their primary care physician, more than 2.1 million members can receive a physical exam and comprehensive review of their health status in the comfort of their home through UnitedHealthcare’s HouseCalls program.* Members also have access to health care professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the NurseLine for support with urgent health issues or concerns that can’t wait for the next available doctor’s appointment.

Because hearing health is fundamental to staying independent and engaged in the community, most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans will continue to provide coverage of hearing aids at a substantially discounted price in 2015.

Serving the Health and Well-Being Needs of Nearly One in Five Beneficiaries¹

UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans, many of which carry the AARP brand, have been designed to help meet the diverse needs of the more than 54 million current beneficiaries as well as baby boomers who are aging into Medicare at the rate of 10,000 per day. The company serves nearly one in five Medicare beneficiaries and has the largest membership in the nation in all three types of Medicare plans: Medicare Advantage plans, Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare supplement plans.²

“More beneficiaries choose UnitedHealthcare than any other company because we help people access the care they need and support them in their efforts to stay healthy, all while helping them save money on their health care,” said Steve Nelson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.* “We are passionate about and committed to helping our members live happier, healthier lives.”

Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their health coverage during the Open Enrollment Period, which begins Oct. 15.

More information about UnitedHealthcare’s 2015 Medicare offerings is available at www.UHCMedicarePlans.com.

Beneficiaries in the following communities can also visit a nearby UnitedHealthcare MedicareStore or MedicareStore-branded mall kiosk for personalized, one-on-one support with their enrollment decisions from licensed UnitedHealthcare agents: Redondo Beach, California; Henderson, Nevada; Tucson, Arizona; West Jordan, Utah; Colorado Springs; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; St. Louis; Brookfield, Wisconsin; Toms River, New Jersey; Clay, New York; North Charleston, South Carolina; Huntsville, Alabama; Fort Myers, Florida; and The Villages, Florida.

The MedicareStores are part of UnitedHealthcare’s growing nationwide retail footprint, with more than 20 storefronts now located in 14 states.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers andMedicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.*

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.

Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.

You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.                 

Other Providers are available in our network.

¹ CMS Enrollment Data, 2014
² CMS Enrollment Data, 2014
* All other statistics in this release can be attributed to UnitedHealthcare Internal Enrollment Data, 2014.

Y0066_140926_122422 Accepted

  Tags: UnitedHealthcare, Press Release, Announcements

Top 10 companies lobbying Washington - Oct. 1, 2014

Influence peddling in Washington is about as old as the city itself.

Financial and political pundits like to talk about how Corporate America's money controls politics, yet few people can tell you which companies are the Beltway's biggest benefactors and why they give so much.

Top 10 companies lobbying Washington - Oct. 1, 2014

Congressman to Secret Service: Look into ADT

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., has some simple advice for the U.S. Secret Service—look into ADT.

Speaking on Tuesday during a congressional hearing on security lapses at the White House, Mica held up an ADT sign as he grilled Secret Service Director Julia Pierson. The sign looked like those commonly found around houses to scare away potential intruders.

Congressman to Secret Service: Look into ADT

Eric Holder Takes $77 Million Job With JPMorgan Chase - The Daily Currant

Just after announcing his resignation as U.S. attorney general, Eric Holder has accepted a top job with Wall Street finance giant JPMorgan Chase.

Starting in early November, Holder will serve as JPMorgan Chase’s chief compliance officer, where his responsibilities will include lobbying Congress on the company’s behalf and ensuring it “gets the best deal possible” from any new proposed financial regulations. Holder will also fetch morning coffee and breakfast orders for CEO Jamie Dimon and board members.

Eric Holder Takes $77 Million Job With JPMorgan Chase - The Daily Currant

Hong Kong protesters are so freaking nice - Oct. 1, 2014

Big demonstrations are always a little uncomfortable. Trash piles up, personal space is non-existent and bathrooms are in short supply.

Add the threat of tear gas, pepper spray or the sting of a police baton, and political protests can often make for angry crowds.

Hong Kong protesters are so freaking nice - Oct. 1, 2014