Columbia snubs trade war snub

Columbia Sportswear has spent years designing ski jackets and hiking boots to withstand the elements: wind, rain, snow and, increasingly, tariffs. The 80-year-old retailer has long protected its outdoor gear from the whims of Washington by engaging in what the company calls “tariff engineering” — adjusting its products to lessen import taxes on materials from outside the United States like rubber soles, zippers and waterproof nylon. But n Now Columbia worries that its approach is under threat from a president whose trade strategy leaves little room for U.S. companies that make and sell products globally.

‘Neo-Banks’ become popular

After the financial crisis 10 years ago, unhappy customers were expected to flee the megabanks for smaller competitors. It did not happen. Big banks became even more entrenched.

Now, venture capitalists are pouring money into American startups offering basic banking services — known as neo-banks or challenger banks. In 2018 so far, American neo-banks have gotten four times as much funding as they did last year and 10 times as much funding as they did in 2015, according to data from CB Insights.

Donating to small groups isn’t easy

Large organizations like universities and hospitals are well equipped to accept a donation of just about any size, but bigger amounts could paralyze smaller nonprofit groups that provide social services.

Thomas J. Tierney, the chairman and a co-founder of Bridgespan, noted that “if you wanted to put $1.8 billion to work to drive social change, how would you do it? It’s hard.” A new Bridgespan report says many ultra-wealthy donors struggle to find social change organizations that are large enough or mature enough to accept a sizable donation. So the donors end up giving to more established nonprofit groups instead.

China’s UTC deal expected to close

China’s regulators on Friday approved the $30 billion acquisition of aerospace manufacturer Rockwell Collins Inc. by United Technologies Corp., clearing the way for the Connecticut conglomerate to close on the deal and stake its claim as a dominant player in the aerospace industry.

In its anti-monopoly review, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation attached conditions that UTC and Rockwell Collins must divest certain assets. Investors cheered the fall of the last regulatory hurdle, sending Rockwell Collins shares up 9.2 percent, to close at $141.63. UTC rose 2.7 percent, ending the day at $129.04.

UTC, which won approval in October from the U.S. Department of Justice, said it now expects to close on the acquisition by next week. The Farmington-based manufacturer of jet engines, airline and aviation components, elevators and heating and cooling equipment announced the deal in September 2017.

The acquisition makes UTC a major player in aerospace. In 2012, it paid $18 billion for Goodrich Corp., a North Carolina-based aviation manufacturer that gave UTC a significant presence in the making of landing gear, brakes and other components