The Annual General Meeting of Scotia Group Jamaica Limited will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, 81 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5.

Guardian Holdings Limited (GHL) has advised that Mr. Jamil Kassum has been appointed to the position of Director of GHL effective February 1, 2011.

Pan Caribbean Financial Services Limited has advised that Mrs. Nichole Case has been appointed to the post of Assistant Vice President, Information Technology, effective January 1, 2011.

The Lasco affiliated companies released their results for the nine month period ending December 31, 2010. The performances were mixed. Lasco Manufacturing reported the best performance with net profit jumping 83.8% to 291.2Mn compared to $158.4Mn over the same nine month period last year. Lasco Distributors was another star performer with net profit spiking 76% to $157.5Mn. However, Lasco Financial Services saw net profit fall 28.1% over the nine month period to $28Mn, despite reporting a 41% increase in profit during the quarter.

Barita Investments Limited (BIL) reported an improved first quarter performance.The company recorded profit of $32.2Mn (EPS: $0.07) compared to a net loss of $13Mn (EPS: -$0.03) in the same quarter last year.

The reduction in market interest rates has allowed for a reduction in Barita’s interest cost and a 100% increase in net interest income to $107.8Mn. Growth in net profit was also supported by $11.6Mn in trading gains.

The company has also managed to show cost containment by cutting operating expenses 5.3% to $84.9Mn. Going forward, with little scope for further rate cuts, it may prove challenging to continue growing net interest income, which accounts for 84% of total revenues. Therefore, gains from trading activities and fee income will need to remain buoyant to bolster earnings growth.

The Annual General Meeting of Scotia DBG Investments Limited will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, 81 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5.

Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited (SLJ) and Capital and Advice Limited, S.A., an investment services ompany incorporated in Costa Rica, executed a joint venture agreement on February 2, 2011 to explore the insurance businesses and insurance related services in certain countries in the Central American Region. Under the terms of the agreement, SLJ will provide certain technical expertise, administrative services and operating systems to support the operations. Capital and Advice, with its experience in banking and other financial services as well as commercial operations, will provide marketing know how and local support to the joint venture. The agreement is subject to regulatory approval in the respective territories of operations.

With reference to the dividend declaration of ten cents per share to be paid on March 4, 2011, Berger Paints Jamaica Limited has advised of an amendment to the record date from February 2, 2011 to February 4, 2011. The ex-dividend date is February 2, 2011.

In Trinidad Cements Limited`s published interim financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, shareholders and other stakeholders were advised that the Group was undertaking a debt restructuring exercise.

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National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCBJ) has advised that Mr. Donovan Lewis has resigned as director of NCBJ, NCB (Cayman) Limited, NCB Capital Markets (Cayman) Limited and NCB Remittance Services (Cayman) Limited, effective January 1, 2011.