DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 1997            TAG: 9710010423

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   45 lines

LOCAL SCENE

CHESAPEAKE

SNELLING FORMS DIVISION: Snelling Personnel Services has formed SnellingSearch. The new division, which will be headed by Barry Iwanowski, will conduct full searches for Information Technology professionals for companies primarily in the local area. Iwanowski was with Strategic Technologies, a high tech group that was developing intelligent agent software for the Air Force.

NEWPORT NEWS

MARR APPOINTED VICE CHAIRMAN OF AIRPORT COMMISSION: Richard F. Marr was appointed vice chairman of the Peninsula Airport Commission. He will represent Hampton and replaces Horace L. Copeland, who had served the commission for 24 years.

VIRGINIA

VALJAR SELLS ITS CRANE RENTAL DIVISION TO RICHMOND COMPANY: Valjar Inc., a Chesapeake construction equipment rental sales company, has sold its operated crane rental division to W.O. Grubb Crane Rental Co. of Richmond. The sale results from a marketing agreement between the two companies. Valjar will continue to rent aerial work platforms and other construction and industrial equipment. The addition for W.O. Grubb will offer more access to its customers' service needs in specialty crane rentals. In addition, Valjar's sales staff will promote Grubb's crane rentals and Grubb's sales force will promote Valjar's overall rental equipment. No jobs were lost as a result. All Valjar crane operators were offered jobs with the Grubb Co., which has branch offices in Portsmouth and Alexandria.

TREDEGAR TO PURCHASE PLANTS FROM REYNOLDS METALS: Tredegar Industries in Richmond said that its William L. Bonnell subsidiary has agreed in principle to acquire two Canada-based aluminum extrusions and fabrication plants owned by the Reynolds Metals Co. The plants are in Ste. Therese, Quebec, and Richmond Hill, Ontario. Details of the agreement were not disclosed. The proposed acquisition, which is subject to various conditions, is expected to be completed in January. The two plants generated about $50 million in sales in 1996.

BEST SOFTWARE IPO RAISES $54 MILLION: Best Software Inc. said Tuesday it sold 4.15 million shares for about $54 million, or $13 each, in an initial public offering of stock. The company, based in Reston, Va., provides human resources and payroll management software systems. Proceeds from the offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

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