Giving them credit: Baton Rouge-based home health and hospice company Amedisys says it has secured $300 million in new financing. Along with a $100 million, five-year amortized loan, Amedisys has also secured another $200 million in revolving credit, whereby the company pays a commitment fee and is then allowed to use the funds as needed. The credit line comes from a group of banks led by Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and JPMorgan Chase Bank, among others. In a prepared statement issued today, Amedisys President and CEO Paul Kusserow says the new financing “aligns well with our strategic plan” and will “provide capital for acquisition opportunities and also deliver significant interest cost savings at current debt levels.”
A new milestone: Credit unions across Louisiana have surpassed a collective $10 billion in assets for the first time, according to the latest quarterly report from the National Credit Union Administration. The credit union industry has grown significantly in the last 24 years, the NCUA says, with key indicators of this growth including financial measures such as assets, savings levels and loan volumes. Economist Loren Scott says 199 individual credit unions throughout Louisiana provide services to more than 1.2 million members and have more than tripled total assets since 1991. “Reaching $10 billion in assets is a major milestone for Louisiana credit unions and signifies our accomplishments and hard work in identifying the specific financial services each member wants and needs, while providing the best and most convenient services,” says Louisiana Credit Union League President and CEO Anne Cochran in a prepared statement.
‘Super Bowl-style’: Two days after announcing that rock group OneRepublic will perform with the Golden Band from Tigerland during halftime of LSU’s home game against Florida on Oct. 17, LSU has announced that Aloe Blacc will perform alongside the marching band during halftime of the LSU-Arkansas game on Nov. 14. The LSU Athletic Department, which is billing the halftime shows as “Super Bowl-style performances,” collaborated with College Live to develop the performances, which could help LSU keep the Tiger Stadium stands full for at least through halftime. Last year, both LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva and football coach Les Miles publicly urged fans to stay for the entirety of the games, most of which saw the stadium only half full or less beyond halftime.
