Moving and Storage Business News

The News Review:

- EMC buys Pi to round out cloud computing unit
- Q4 2007 Mobile Mini Earnings Conference Call – Final.
- Report: Former NFL player to run for mayor

EMC buys Pi to round out cloud computing unit
InfoWorld – Feb 22, 2008
html”,”leftColumn”); Seattle-based Pi develops software and online services to enable users to control how they find, access, share and protect everything from photos, videos, and music. The data can be stored online or locally. The company name stands for personal information, not the number 3. The rapidly growing amount of personal data is what prompted EMC to open its wallet, according to CEO Joe Tucci. It’s a cash transaction, but EMC won’t disclose the amount. Pi hasn’t actually launched any products or services yet: They are in beta testing, according to EMC…
Pi hasn’t actually launched any products or services yet: They are in beta testing, according to EMC. EMC sees Pi not only as part of its consumer push, but also an element of its cloud computing strategy, the next big thing in storage, according to one analyst. “Cloud computing is the next storage hype. It’s all about moving storage, back up, and even clock cycles to the net,” said Per Sedihn, chief technology officer at Swedish storage integrator Proact. EMC expects to complete the deal during the first quarter, at which point Pi and its 100 employees will join EMC’s newly minted Cloud Infrastructure and Services Division. It already includes Mozy, an online backup service, and Fortress, a platform for cloud-based services. Pi founder and CEO Paul Maritz (who used to be an executive at Microsoft), will join EMC’s executive management team as president and general manager of the divsion.

Q4 2007 Mobile Mini Earnings Conference Call – Final.
Free with registration – Fair Disclosure Wire – AccessMyLibrary.com – Feb 22, 2008
So with that said I’m going to turn it over to Larry to read the disclaimer. LARRY TRACHTENBERG, EVP, CFO, MOBILE MINI: Thanks, Steve. We issued a press release this morning detailing the definitive merger agreement we have entered into with Mobile Storage Group, as well as our fourth quarter GAAP and fiscal 2007 pro forma and GAAP operating results. This release is available on our website and can also be accessed through various Web-based news services. Form 8-K containing the press release has been filed and is also now available. Before we get started I would like to read you our disclaimer. This conference call may contain forward-looking statements, particularly regarding our anticipated merger, our ability to continue to grow our existing markets and to expand into new markets, our ability to finance our business and operating results and prospects for the remainder of 2008, 2009 and beyond, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated…
Through this combination we estimate that Mobile Mini will now cover virtually 100% of all major markets in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Of Mobile Storage’s 86 total branches we estimate that we will add 21 new branches to Mobile Mini in the US and 14 new branches in the United Kingdom. While Mobile Storage is a well-run company we believe that by introducing our core marketing expertise to these new branches, we will be able to achieve higher growth rates in these markets in the future than may have historically achieved. Secondly, we believe this transaction — we believe this combination represents an opportunity for us to create a world-class organization with the best people in the portable storage industry. We will be expanding our management team to incorporate many of Mobile Storage’s senior management and we intent on keeping virtually all of Mobile Storage’s sales personnel, top branch managers and other key field personnel. We believe this merger offers us the opportunity to create a company with the top portable storage employees in the industry. Third and very importantly to our shareholders, we believe this transaction offers us the opportunity to realize substantial synergies from the merger which in combination with the growth opportunities I mentioned earlier, will make this a very accretive transaction in 2009 when we expect the synergies should be fully realized.

Report: Former NFL player to run for mayor
United Press International – Feb 22, 2008
) Daily Herald Friday. Schwantz, a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in 1992, was traded to Dallas in 1994, and was a member of the Cowboys’ Super Bowl XXX championship team. He currently is the account sales manager at Von Sydow’s Moving and Storage company in Palatine and works for the Bears’ pre-game and post-game shows on Chicago’s WBBM-AM radio. “We as a community deserve and need positive leadership on our village council,” the Palatine native said in a statement. Incumbent Rita Mullins, the mayor since 1989, has not said if she will run for reelection. The election is in April 2009. “It’s very, very early to make any announcements,” she said.