Two Rivers Bank & Trust can collect the remaining $1.6 million due on developer John Kline’s mortgage from an insurance policy he carried on an Urbandale home, according to a consent order signed Monday by a U.S. bankruptcy judge in Des Moines. Kline filed for bankruptcy Feb. 17, a little more than a week after the home at 3536 129th St. was destroyed in a fire that remains under investigation. To date, Klein has not filed an accounting of his debts and assets, citing his constitutional right against self-incrimination. However, in a separate filing, Kline’s wife, Michelle, sought to protect her 50 percent stake in a $4 million insurance policy through American Family Mutual Insurance Co. and a $6.5 million policy from Chubb Corp. Under bankruptcy laws, creditors generally are prohibited from seeking payment of debts until the case is resolved. Two Rivers filed a motion April 30 seeking to have the prohibition lifted so it could tap the American Family policy to pay off the mortgage. According to that filing, the Klines mortgaged the home, which has an assessed value of slightly more than $1 million, for nearly $2 million in 2006. Two other banks and a credit union have indicated that they will fight a discharge of debts.

Stacy Sime has been named president and CEO of the Blood Center of Iowa, replacing Sheri Vohs, who retired at the end of May after leading the center for 10 years. Sime previously served as vice president of operations and has been with the Blood Center for 15 years.

The National Association of Realtors’ seasonally adjusted index of sales contracts signed in April rose 6.7 points to 90.3, the biggest jump in pending home sales in nearly eight years, the Associated Press reported. The index has been rising every month since hitting a record low in January.

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed its financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” on EMC Insurance Cos., its property and casualty pool members and EMC Reinsurance Co. It also has affirmed the issuer credit ratings of “bbb-” on the publicly traded EMC Insurance Group Inc. The outlook for all ratings is stable. The ratings reflect the company’s excellent risk-adjustment capitalization, improved operating performance after weather and catastrophe losses affected its 2008 results and positive results from management’s pricing and risk selection. These positive factors were offset by exposure to weather events, above-average level of common stock leverage and policyholder dividends, and the possibility of a lower level of favorable prior-year loss reserve development in future years.

Cedar Rapids-based Rockwell Collins Inc. has completed its acquisition of DataPath Inc., a creator of satellite-based communication networks. Rockwell has acquired all outstanding shares of DataPath in a cash transaction worth approximately $130 million.

Des Moines International Airport has received its fifth consecutive perfect inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. “A finding of no discrepancies is rare, let alone doing it five years running,” said Airside Deputy Director Ken McCoy. “It takes a lot of hard work by all of our employees to be this successful.”

The global hotel industry continued to face tough times in April, the Phoenix Business Journal reported. According to data from Smith Travel Research, all four regions – the Americas, Europe, Asia/Pacific and Middle East – experienced double-digit percentage declines in occupancy and revenue per available room compared with April 2008. Occupancy in the Americas was down 11.3 percent to 56.5 percent, the average daily rate was down 10 percent and revenue per available room was down 20 percent. The United States was hit hardest in terms of average daily rate, with a 9.4 percent drop to $98.37.

The Des Moines Business Record will host the next installment of its Power Breakfast Series on Tuesday, June 16, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Des Moines Club, 666 Grand Ave., 34th Floor, Des Moines. Panelists will discuss “Breaking the Glass Ceiling.” The cost is $20 and includes a continental breakfast. Register at www.businessrecord.com under “Business Record Events.”