Press Releases

GLENVIEW, Ill., Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share or $1.44 per share on an annual basis.  This dividend will be paid on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 to stockholders of record as of Friday, March 30, 2012.

Celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2012, ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 200 global diversified industrial manufacturer of value-added consumables and specialty equipment with related service businesses. The company focuses on profitable growth and strong returns across worldwide platforms and businesses. These businesses serve local customers and markets around the globe, with a significant presence in developed as well as emerging markets. ITW's revenues totaled $17.8 billion in 2011, with more than half of these revenues generated outside of the United States.

SOURCE Illinois Tool Works Inc.

BOSTON, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Eaton Vance Short Duration Diversified Income Fund (NYSE: EVG), a closed-end management investment company, today declared a monthly distribution of $0.09 per common share. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of future distributions may change. The distribution is expected to be paid on February 29, 2012, to shareholders of record on February 22, 2012.  The ex-date is February 17, 2012.

At this time the Fund believes that a portion of the February distribution may be comprised of amounts from sources other than net investment income.  If that is the case, you will be notified in writing.  Further information will be available prior to the payment date at   http://funds.eatonvance.com.  The final determination of tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions will occur after the end of the year, at which time it will be reported to the shareholders.

The Fund is managed by Eaton Vance Management, a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (NYSE: EV), based in Boston, one of the oldest investment management firms in the United States, with a history dating back to 1924. Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed $184.5 billion in assets as of December 31, 2011, offering individuals and institutions a broad array of investment strategies and wealth management solutions.  The Company's long record of providing exemplary service and attractive returns through a variety of market conditions has made Eaton Vance the investment manager of choice for many of today's most discerning investors.  For more information about Eaton Vance, visit www.eatonvance.com.

SOURCE Eaton Vance Management

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Better Homes and Gardens, America's largest selling consumer magazine, today released proprietary research and insights into the ideas, inspirations, and strategies driving consumers as they consider the function, style and efficiency of their homes.

In a presentation given at the International Builders Show, Jill Waage, Editorial Director for Home Content for Better Homes and Gardens revealed survey results about consumer attitudes towards home ownership, upkeep and renovations, design and personalization, and more. A primary point revealed in the presentation shows that, despite continuing economic uncertainty, consumer thoughts toward home ownership remain strong with 8 in 10 saying home ownership is still a good investment and an important part of the American Dream. The BHG survey also found that consumers are more proactive in designing and curating their homes and, in fact, are spending more time planning design changes for the home (up to 38% from 33% the year prior).

"Our homes are the physical expression of ourselves and lives. In addition to spending more time planning and hunting for the right elements for living spaces, consumers are also turning to social media platforms like Pinterest to gather and share design inspirations, smart products, creative ideas and space-wise solutions," said Waage.  

Better Homes and Gardens is one of the largest shelter brands followed on Pinterest, and its most popular Pinterest boards include Smart Storage Solutions, DIY Ideas for Your Home and Beautiful Bathrooms. To date, Better Homes and Gardens images have been re-pinned more than 27,000 times by followers. Waage continued: "If you want to see what a 'dream home' means to consumers, simply look online where consumers are taking command of their design dreams, one pin and share at a time. The future is full of design dreaming and planning!"

Living space and the way it's utilized also continues to be top of mind for consumers. In this latest survey, conducted in December 2011, consumers wished for a median square footage of 1,791 sq. feet, down from 1,846 sq. feet the year prior. Waage shared: "There's more attention given towards the aesthetic and function of a space, rather than the amount of space. They're not as willing to invest in the bigger, but instead investing in what's better. Affordability and efficiency – both in space and energy – ranks topmost."

Among the survey's key findings:

• Owning a home is still an important part of the American Dream (According to 8 in 10 surveyed)
• Consumers are taking more time to plan for home improvement projects (39% in 2011 compared to 33% in 2010) and are shopping around for more deals and bargains before committing to home improvement plans (42% in 2011 compared to 40% in 2010)
• Consumers find it more important than ever to get the most value out of every dollar (61% in 2011, up from 56% in 2010), and will spend more time looking for bargains and deals in order to get the most value for their money (Up to 54% in 2011, from 52% in 2010)
• Consumers are more willing to get rid of excess "stuff" and not willing to mortgage for more storage space. Multi-purpose rooms are a necessity in the home. Consumers aren't interested in "bonus rooms" or "media rooms" unless they have a multi-functional purpose
• Style upgrades claim even greater prominence as being the most important feature in consumers' upcoming home improvement plans, followed by storage.  For future projects, style upgrades on countertops, flooring, faucets and fixtures is up to 55% in 2011 from 50% in 2010. Expanded/improved storage space stayed flat at 39% in 2011, same as in 2010
• In terms of remodeling priorities for consumers, baths are outpacing kitchens. Bathroom remodeling stayed constant in 2011 and 2010 (31%) and kitchen remodeling was stable at 25% in 2011, compared to 24% in 2010

About the survey: The Better Homes and Gardens Next Home Survey was fielded online from December 2-13, 2011 surveying over 4,000 Better Homes and Gardens readers who identified themselves as prospective home buyers or those planning major home improvements. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2%.

About Better Homes and Gardens: Reaching nearly 40 million readers every month, the Better Homes and Gardens brand extends across the web, tablet, mobile, broadcast, broadband and numerous licensed products, serving and connecting women who are passionate about their homes and the lives they create there.  Better Homes and Gardens inspires women to dream and gives them the confidence to move from dreaming to doing.  For more information, visit www.bhg.com

SOURCE Better Homes and Gardens

NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Norfolk Southern Foundation, the charitable giving affiliate of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), announced today that it awarded nearly $6.2 million in grants during 2011 to nonprofit, charitable organizations, an 11 percent increase over 2010.

"At Norfolk Southern we believe that service includes serving the communities where we operate our trains and where our employees live and work in addition to providing safe transportation for our customers' freight," said NS CEO Wick Moorman, who is also chairman of the United Way of South Hampton Roads 2011-2012 fund-raising campaign. "Through the Norfolk Southern Foundation, we are focused on helping to build and nurture communities in our 22-state rail network through our charitable giving programs."

The Foundation contributes to organizations supporting its four priorities: providing food and shelter to those in need; expanding educational opportunities for children; helping conserve the environment; and promoting the arts and culture.

NS Foundation giving in 2011 included:

• $2.03 million to 80 United Way campaigns and other health and human services groups, a 5 percent increase over 2010. More than $400,000 of that went to groups such as the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, which helped distribute food and clothing to more than 110,000 people last year; ForKids Inc., which helps homeless families with children become self-supporting; and Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, which is dedicated to children's health and well-being.
• $1.08 million to cultural and performing arts groups, such as Virginia Arts Festival, Virginia Opera, Virginia Symphony, Virginia Stage Company, public TV and radio, museums, zoos, and cultural centers, including the Chrysler Museum, Virginia Museum of Transportation, and Woodruff Arts Center.
• $998,995 for educational organizations. Benefiting from the 27 percent funding increase in this category were the ACCESS Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to enable high school graduates in Norfolk to attend college, and 14 universities that received $300,000 in grants under the Norfolk Southern College Partnership Program. This program, established in 2006, builds relationships to enhance the railroad's recruiting opportunities, particularly for business and engineering graduates.
• $382,850 to civic, community, and environmental groups, 5 percent higher than 2010. As part of this funding, $142,000 went to police, fire, and emergency response organizations, school programs, and historical and community groups through NS' local discretion grant program. This program gives each operating division the opportunity to have a direct impact on the communities where employees work and live. As part of its environmental support, the Foundation provided grants to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Elizabeth River Project to clean up waterways and protect coastal habitats from overdevelopment, and first-time funding to the Longleaf Alliance to support research to restore Longleaf pine forest ecosystems in the South.
• $1.7 million in employee matching gifts in support of 547 organizations – up 21 percent over 2010. Grants other than matching gifts went to 350 organizations.

Norfolk Southern takes seriously its role as a corporate citizen and its responsibility to commit resources, both human and financial, to the improvement of those communities for the benefit of its employees and its neighbors. Since its creation in 1983, the Foundation has contributed nearly $124 million to thousands of civic and charitable organizations throughout Norfolk Southern's territory. In the last five years, it has provided more than $27.5 million in contributions.

NS Foundation funding increases to $7 million for 2012

In response to a sharp rise in grant requests and cutbacks in public funding, Norfolk Southern has increased the Foundation's budget for 2012 by 13 percent to $7 million. In coming years, the Foundation aims to provide additional funding for health and human services organizations, groups working to preserve the environment in areas where the railroad operates, and to the local discretion grant program.

The Norfolk Southern Foundation will accept grants for 2013 funding July 15-Sept. 30, 2012. For information about the Foundation, and eligibility and application procedures, visit Norfolk Southern Foundation.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

Connect with NS

http://www.nscorp.com/ http://www.facebook.com/NorfolkSouthern http://www.flickr.com/photos/norfolksouthern http://www.twitter.com/nscorp http://www.youtube.com/user/norfolksoutherncorp

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation