FOR THE
              RECORD        

      By Leila Marija Ugincius

This report is compiled from company releases, business journals and newspapers from around the state. If you have an item for these listings, mail it to Leila Marija Ugincius at VIRGINIA BUSINESS, 411 E. Franklin St., Suite 105, Richmond, Va. 23219, e-mail it to ForTheRecord@va-business.com, or fax it to (804) 649-6311.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Just after revealing its plans to purchase Signet Bank, Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union Corp. announced its intent to acquire Wheat First Butcher Singer Inc.

First Union plans to exchange 10.27 million shares of its stock for the Richmond-based brokerage and investment-banking company, which would value the deal at more than $490 million. Employee-owned Wheat First's headquarters will remain in Richmond, but the firm's name will be changed to Wheat First Union.

The Wheat acquisition mirrors similar moves by other banks, including NationsBank, that recently announced plans to purchase securities firms.

A.T. Massey Coal Co. of Richmond purchased United Coal Co. of Grundy from Bristol-based United Co. for an undisclosed amount.

Electronic Systems, a Virginia Beach-based office-automation and systems-integration company, is being acquired by Global Imaging Systems Inc., a Tampa, Fla.-based automation company, for an undisclosed amount.

Fuisz Technologies Ltd., a Chantilly-based developer of special coatings for drugs and food, plans to purchase Clonmel Healthcare Ltd. of Ireland from the Cross Group for more than $12 million.

Goodman & Co., a Norfolk accounting firm, plans to acquire McLeanÕs Collins-Gregg Associates. Terms were not disclosed.

Metrocall Inc., an Alexandria-based messaging company, plans to purchase Dallas-based ProNet Inc., one of its biggest competitors, for $73.8 million.

NKL Industries Ltd., a Chesapeake manufacturer of safes and security equipment, plans to merge with Waynesboro, Ga.-based Allied Gary International. Terms were not disclosed.

Options Health Care Inc. of Norfolk purchased Consulting Health Care Systems of New York City for an undisclosed amount.

Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles plans to purchase the satellite manufacturing and communications division of Rockville, Md.-based CTA Inc. for $37 million.

Space Applications Corp., a Vienna-based engineering company, purchased Applied Research of Maryland Inc., a subsidiary of Applied Research Corp., for an undisclosed amount.

Star Technologies Inc., a Sterling-based software company, purchased Intrafed Inc., a Maryland-based software company, for $1.9 million plus 2.6 million shares of Star stock.

DEALS

Media General Inc., the Richmond-based communications company that owns Virginia Business and media properties throughout the Southeast, has traded a Richmond television station with a rival, Raycom Media/Ellis Communications Inc. of Atlanta, for television stations in Georgia and Mississippi. Last year Media General acquired the station, WTVR-Channel 6, with its $710 million purchase of Park Acquisitions Inc. The company could not keep the station because of Federal Communications Commission rules barring media companies from owning a broadcast station and a daily newspaper in the same market. Media General also owns the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

NEW PLANTS & COMPANIES

Limbach Co., a Pittsburgh-based mechanical services contracting firm, opened a mid-Atlantic regional office in Henrico County.

Ontario Store Fixtures Inc., a Canadian store-fixture manufacturer, plans to locate a facility in Nottoway County, investing $5 million and creating up to 300 jobs.

EXPANSIONS

American Fiber Industries Inc., a California-based pillow manufacturer, plans to invest $2.5 million to expand its Henry County operations.

CUTBACKS & CLOSINGS

Bassett Furniture Industries Inc. plans to close its Burkeville and Statesville, N.C., plants as part of an effort to consolidate its business.

International Family Entertainment, the Virginia Beach subsidiary of News Corp.'s Fox Kids Worldwide, plans to lay off an undetermined number of employees as some of the company's operations shift from Virginia Beach to Los Angeles.

Trigon Healthcare Inc. of Richmond plans to cut 72 jobs in its member-services division as part of a restructuring plan.

EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS

Roy B. Goodman, CFO, Heilig-Meyers Co., a Richmond-based furniture retailer.

J. Robert Mooney, CFO, Ethyl Corp. in Richmond

CONTRACTS

BDM International Inc., McLean: $8.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for administrative and management support services.

Computer Systems International Inc., Chesapeake: $90 million over five years to provide information-technology integration services to support the General Services Administration.

Halifax Technical Services Inc., Alexandria: $8.7 million from the Army Corps of Engineers to operate and maintain the Norfolk district segment of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Maersk Line, Norfolk: $91.2 million over five years from the Military Sealift Command for ship operations.

Radian Inc., Alexandria: $68.8 million from the Naval Surface Warfare Center for an integrated security identification system.

Veda Inc., Alexandria: $12.6 million from the Navy for communication systems engineering.

Virtexco Corp., Norfolk: $15 million per year for three years from the Navy for repairs.

REAL ESTATE

United Dominion Realty Trust Inc. of Richmond sold an apartment portfolio consisting of 1,204 units in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Virginia for $34.7 million to Alliance HD Portfolio Limited Partnership of Illinois. The company also purchased a 934-home apartment portfolio in Florida from American Capitol Group I Assets for $35.4 million.

STOCKS

Jackson Hewitt Inc., a Virginia Beach-based tax-preparation service, sold 1.3 million new shares in a public offering for $23 million.