Wanda English Burnett, Editor

The announcement of newly formed companies - Hillenbrand, Inc. and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. was made at the ringing of the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange on April 1.

The local Batesville company had a lot to celebrate, new names, separate companies and a symbol change on the NYSE. As the new companies were revealed to the world, their presidents Peter H. Soderberg, president and CEO of the new Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Kenneth A. Camp, president and CEO of Hillenbrand Inc., which is the new parent company for Batesville Casket Company, marked this momentous occasion by ringing the opening bell last week on Wall Street.

A number of executives and guests of Hillenbrand Industries and Batesville Casket Company visited the New York Stock Exchange for the big event, with others watching on big screens from their vantage point on big screens at the Bee Active Gym School in Batesville. Employees of the company, along with others, celebrated from other points in the Batesville area, and around the world reaching as far as Sydney, Australia.

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HRC) is a $1.4 billion leading worldwide manufacturer and provider of medical technologies and related services for the health care industry. This includes patient support systems, non-invasive therapeutic products for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions, medical equipment rentals, and information technology solutions.

Batesville Casket Company, Hillenbrand Inc. Holding Co., (NYSE: HI) is a leader in the North American death care industry through the sale of funeral service products, including burial caskets, cremation caskets, containers and urns, selection room display fixtures, along with personalization and memorialization products.

From New York, Soderberg talked about the impact the change will have on Batesville with local radio station WRBI. He said, “Batesville is probably one of the smallest communities in the Midwest to have two publicly traded companies and that the board thought the spin off was in the best interest for the company and shareholders for the long-term.”

Camp said there is the potential for job growth, saying his company was in the process of adding more than 70 jobs. He commented, “We are very excited about the stability we have.”
Both CEO’s were excited about the positive impact the change would have on the City of Batesville and shareholders of the company. Sales as of April 1 were described as “brisk” with Hill-Rom opening at $25.60 and Hillenbrand Inc. at $21.90 on April 1. Before noon that day they had sold 92,000 shares for HI and 89,000 for Hillenbrand Inc.