REGION

REGION
First Place expectsdeal to add to earnings
WARREN -- First Place Financial Corp. earned $1.5 million, or 11 cents a share, in its fourth fiscal quarter, which ended June 30, compared with $5 million, or 39 cents a share, in the same quarter last year.
Last quarter included $3.9 million in expenses related to the acquisition of Franklin Bancorp in Michigan.
Steven Lewis, president and chief executive of Warren-based First Place, said he expects the deal to add to earnings within the next 12 months.
For the fiscal year, First Place earnings were $14.2 million, or $1.09 a share, compared with $16.7 million, or $1.29 a share, in fiscal 2003.
The board of directors declared a dividend 14 cents a share, payable Aug. 12 to shareholders of record as of July 29.
NATION
Krispy Kreme shares drop
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Shares of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. sank more than 15 percent Thursday after the doughnut maker said federal regulators were looking into the retailer's franchise repurchases and its recent profit warning.
The company said it was cooperating fully with the Securities and Exchange Commission on an "informal, nonpublic inquiry."
From Vindicator staff and wire reports