Johnson Controls, Inc.  today announced that it has completed its previously announced public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes.  The senior notes have an interest rate of 5.000% and will be due on March 30, 2020.

The Company received approximately $494.2 million of net proceeds from the offering after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses of the offering.  The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including to repay short-term indebtedness that it has incurred to finance working capital requirements.

Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc. and ING Financial Markets LLC served as joint book-running managers for the offering.

ABC News / Money

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said Friday it has revised its outlook on auto parts and building systems maker Johnson Controls Inc. to “positive” from “stable.”

S&P also affirmed its rating on the company, including its BBB corporate credit rating.

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Johnson Controls has been ranked among America’s top companies for Best Investor Relations by Institutional Investor magazine.

Steve Roell, Johnson Controls’ chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Bruce McDonald, chief financial officer, were recognized as leaders in the Autos and Auto Parts category by Institutional Investor in its annual ranking. Johnson Controls was also ranked first in the Consumer, Autos and Auto Parts category for Best Investor Relations. Glen Ponczak, executive director of Investor Relations, was named the Best Investor Relations Professional by both buy-side and sell-side analysts. » More: Institutional Investor ranks Johnson Controls among top U.S. companies in annual survey

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Shareholders of Johnson Controls Inc. on Wednesday approved an investor proposal recommending that the company’s directors be elected by a majority of shareholders.

The corporate governance proposal was offered by Laborers National Pension Fund, which has pressed the issue with many companies across the country. Currently, directors can be elected if they get less than a majority of shareholders’ consent.

Read the complete story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Submit comments below.

The Directors of Johnson Controls, Inc. have authorized a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.13 per common share. The dividend is payable April 2, 2010 to shareholders of record March 12, 2010.

Johnson Controls has paid consecutive dividends since 1887.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2010, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) reported a double-digit increase in sales as well as record quarterly earnings. The company also increased its estimate for 2010 earnings.  

Highlights for the company’s first quarter of 2010 include:

• Net sales of $8.4 billion vs. $7.3 billion in Q1 2009, up 15%
• Record income from business segments of $406 million vs. a Q1 2009 loss
• Record net income; earnings per diluted share of $0.52 ($0.43 per diluted share excluding non-recurring items)
• Free cash flow of $631 million
• Net debt reduction of $552 million » More: Johnson Controls Q1 2010 revenues increase 15% with record earnings; company raises sales and earnings forecast

WFPL News, Louisville, Kentucky

A husband and wife from Georgetown, Kentucky have stepped forward to collect a Powerball lottery jackpot worth nearly $129 million before taxes.

Rob and Tuesday Anderson both work at Johnson Controls, which makes auto parts for the Toyota plant.

Read the complete story on the WFPL News website. Submit comments below.

By Steve Thomas, Johnson Controls

Around 1,000 people were detained on Saturday in Copenhagen after a group of youths began rioting during a rally associated with the UN Climate Change Conference. Estimates are that between 30,000 and 50,000 people participated in the rally, which involved a march from Christiansborg Castle Square to the Bella Center, site of the COP15 negotiations. Witnesses to the rally and march said it stretched for over 5 kilometers (3 miles). » More: Protests, politicians and progress in Copenhagen

Johnson Controls, Inc. today announced the appointment of Steven E. Quick as vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions, EMEA. In this role, he will drive the continued growth of the Global WorkPlace Solutions business for Johnson Controls in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He moves from his current position as executive vice president, Global WorkPlace Solutions, leading the Media and Communications customer business group in the Americas. » More: Steven E. Quick announced as vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions, EMEA

When asked to develop a series of employee training modules on sustainability, I jumped at the chance.  Teaching people how to save energy and water, recycle, develop a green supply chain and be aware of environmental quality are skills that people can use every day both at work and at home.

But the biggest challenge was coming up with a definition of sustainability that people could relate to.

Sustainability is one of those things that people seem to love – or love to hate.  It’s one of those, “I know what it is when I see it, but I can’t explain it.”  They embrace it, which is evident in the growing number of companies that issue sustainability reports each year.  Or they despise it – thinking it’s just another business fad or treehugger fantasy.

So how do you explain sustainability to people so they get it?

» More: What the heck is sustainability?