Monthly Archives: November 2012

17 hrs.

A. Pawlowski, NBC News contributor , NBC News

You still cant visit the Statue of Liberty in the aftermath of SuperstormSandy, but you will once again be able to see the beloved American icon shining bright after sunset in New York Harbor.

The storm knocked out power on Liberty Island, so Lady Liberty has been enveloped in darkness at night for almost two weeks now. But starting Friday, the statue will be re-lit by a temporary, generator-powered system donated to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of Americas national parks.

Musco Lighting, a company that specializes in lighting sports stadiums and arenas, is providing the equipment and services that will illuminate the statue, while the National Park Service evaluates the damage to the attractions permanent lighting system.

While we work to do everything necessary to reopen the statue and every other national park damaged by the hurricane, we are grateful to Musco and the National Park Foundation for turning the lights on Lady Liberty, another step forward in the recovery of this region, said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, in a statement.

The temporary fix consists of LED light fixtures, powered by small generators and mounted on portable structures that can be moved as needed during the restoration work.

Liberty Island was closed on Oct. 29 as the hurricane approached, and it never reopened after the storm caused considerable wind and water damage to the grounds.

There is now minimal power on the island and crews are on site cleaning up the debris, but its still unknown how much it will cost to return the attraction back to normal or when it will reopen to the public, said Linda Friar, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service Incident Management Team.

The group charged to help New York Harbor-area national parks after the stormnow includes 320 NPS employees from 38 states,the District of Columbia andPuerto Rico.

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Statue of Liberty relit for first time after storm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The United States Olympic Committee today announced that Liberty Mutual Insurance will be an official sponsor of the 2014 and 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams in Sochi, Russia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The sponsorship designates Liberty Mutual as the Official Property and Casualty and Life Insurance Partner.

We are excited to join the Olympic and Paralympic Movements through our sponsorship of Team USA, said David H. Long, president and chief executive officer of Liberty Mutual Insurance. Liberty Mutual Insurance has long celebrated the dreams of athletes, supporting youth athletics through our Responsible Sports program, and we look forward to continuing that support during the 2014 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Liberty Mutuals sponsorship of the USOC will take effect in January of 2013.

I am happy to welcome Liberty Mutual to the family of great USOC sponsors, and I am eager to work together over the coming years in support and celebration of Team USA athletes, said Scott Blackmun, chief executive officer of the USOC. Liberty Mutual is dedicated to sport at all levels from youth sports to the highest level of international competition and it will be a great partner to our U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

In addition to supporting Team USA, Liberty Mutual's Responsible Sports program supports volunteer youth sports coaches and parents who help children succeed both on and off the field. Since 2007, the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports program has supported youth sports organizations across the country through partnerships with the Positive Coaching Alliance, Amateur Softball Association of America, American Youth Soccer Organization, USA Hockey, USA Wrestling and US Youth Soccer.

About Liberty Mutual Insurance:

"Helping people live safer, more secure lives" since 1912, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified global insurer and the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2011 direct premiums written as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Liberty Mutual Insurance also ranks 84th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2011 revenue. As of December 31, 2011, Liberty Mutual Insurance had $117.1 billion in consolidated assets, $99.3 billion in consolidated liabilities, and $34.7 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

Liberty Mutual Insurance offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, property, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, reinsurance and surety. Liberty Mutual Insurance (www.libertymutualinsurance.com) employs over 50,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world.

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Liberty Mutual Insurance Named Official Sponsor of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams Through 2016

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Liberty Global, Inc. (Liberty Global or LGI) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK) today announced that, following regulatory approval, it has consummated the previously announced agreement with investment funds affiliated with Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (collectively, Searchlight). Pursuant to this agreement, a subsidiary of LGI contributed its 100% interest in Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico LLC (Liberty Puerto Rico), and Searchlight contributed cash, to Leo Cable LP, an entity that, in turn, used the Searchlight cash to acquire 100% of the equity of San Juan Cable, LLC, doing business as OneLink Communications (OneLink).

Leo Cable LP is ultimately 60%-owned by LGI and 40%-owned by Searchlight. LGI will have a controlling financial interest in, and will consolidate, Leo Cable LP. The newly formed entity represents the largest cable operator on the island with homes passed of approximately 700,000 and revenue generating units (RGUs)1 approaching 500,000. LionTree Advisors and Scotiabank acted as financial advisors to Leo Cable LP and certain of its affiliates in this transaction.

About Liberty Global

Liberty Global is the leading international cable company, with operations in 13 countries. We connect people to the digital world and enable them to discover and experience its endless possibilities. Our market-leading television, broadband internet, and telephony services are provided through next-generation networks and innovative technology platforms that connect 20 million customers who subscribe to 34 million services as of September 30, 2012.

Liberty Globals consumer brands include UPC, Unitymedia, Kabel BW, Telenet and VTR. Our operations also include Chellomedia, our content division, UPC Business, a commercial services division and Liberty Global Ventures, our investment fund. For more information, please visit http://www.lgi.com.

About Searchlight

Searchlight is a private investment firm founded in 2010 by senior partners formerly with industry leading investment management firms. Searchlight Capital Partners currently manages over $860 million, invests in a wide range of industries in North America and Europe, and has offices in New York, London and Toronto. For more information, please visit http://www.searchlightcap.com.

1 The homes passed and RGU figures are as of September 30, 2012. LCPR figures are based on Liberty Global subscriber definitions and OneLink homes passed and RGUs are based on information provided to us by OneLink.

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Liberty Global and Searchlight Complete OneLink Acquisition