Kevin O’Donoghue, who recently moved to Des Moines to join Aviva Capital Management Inc., a subsidiary of Aviva USA, as a senior securities analyst has been named the top insurance analyst in the world by the Financial Times. O’Donoghue was previously with Banc of America Securities in New York. For the full report on the world’s top analysts, visit http://www.ft.com/reports/topanalysts2008

The direct banking arm of ING Groep NV is offering 416 million euros ($644 million) in cash for Germany’s Interhyp to expand its global business, Reuters reported. Interhyp’s two founders have committed to tendering their 32 percent stake in the online mortgage broker for the 64 euros per share offer, which will launch in June and last four weeks, ING Direct said on Monday. The offer price represents a 42 percent premium to Interhyp’s closing share price on Friday, including a 2.10 euro dividend and a special one-time payout of 2 euros, ING said. Interhyp would be ING Direct’s second-biggest acquisition by value.

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. has expanded its biosecurity offerings in Asia with a new DuPont <b.Animal Health Solutions facility in Shenzhen, China. The plant produces Virkon S, the leading virucidal disinfectant. DuPont plans to manufacture other animal health product offerings at the plant in the future. DuPont Animal Health Solutions products are widely used in the livestock industry for customized biosecurity programs that help prevent pathogens from establishing themselves and also help prevent the spread of infection on the farm. Sales of DuPont Animal Health Solutions are growing at more than 50 percent annually in China alone.

The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation announced that it is investing a $100,000 Community Foundation Leadership Grant in the Kiwanis Miracle League to fund the development of the land, field preparation and a special rubberized surface that will make it possible for kids who perhaps are wheelchair-bound or visually impaired to play organized baseball. “The Community Foundation’s (grant) will enable us to begin construction immediately so that area kids with special needs will be able to play ball yet this summer,” said Bob Mitchell, president of the Kiwanis Miracle League Board. “In recognition of the Community Foundation’s grant, kids playing in the Kiwanis Miracle League at Principal Park will be playing on the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation Field.”

First Federal Bankshares Inc., the parent company of Vantus Bank, last week announced an impairment loss on one of the company’s trust-preferred pooled securities. The impairment loss amounted to $3.3 million ($2.1 million after income taxes) for both the three- and six-month periods ended Dec. 31, 2007. The impairment losses amounted to $489,000 and $3.8 million, respectively, for the three- and nine-month periods ended March 31. The after-tax amounts for these periods were $312,000 and $2.4 million, respectively. Following the impairment loss, the company’s net losses from operations for the three and six months ended Dec. 31, 2007, were $1.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The net losses from operations for the three and nine months ended March 31 were $1.8 million and $3.2 million, respectively.

Lowe’s Cos. Inc. today reported an 18 percent decrease in first-quarter profit as the weak U.S. housing market and softer economy hurt sales, and it cut its full-year profit forecast, Reuters reported. The company also cut its sales-growth forecast for this year and said earnings for the current quarter would be lower than the year-earlier level. Earnings came to $607 million, or 41 cents per share, for the quarter ended May 2, compared with $739 million, or 48 cents a share, a year earlier.