Romney joins Marriott

Former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is rejoining Marriott International’s board of directors.

He’s held the post with the hotel chain twice before.

It’s the first job announcement Romney has made since he lost the November election to President Barack Obama.

Manufacturing in U.S. falls to 3-year low

WASHINGTON » U.S. manufacturing shrank in November to its weakest level since July 2009, one month after the Great Recession ended. Worries about automatic tax increases next year cut demand for factory orders and manufacturing jobs.

The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its index of manufacturing conditions fell to a reading of 49.5, down from 51.7 in October.

Readings above 50 signal growth, while readings below indicate contraction. Manufacturing grew in October for only the second time since May. The ISM is a trade group of purchasing managers.

Builders hiked spending 1.4% in October

WASHINGTON » U.S. builders increased their spending on construction projects in October by the largest amount in five months.

The Commerce Department said Monday that construction spending rose 1.4 percent in October. It was the largest gain since a 1.7 percent increase in May.

The increase raised spending to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $872.1 billion. That’s nearly 17 percent higher than a 12-year low hit in February 2011.

Oracle accelerates 3 dividend payments

Oracle Corp. accelerated dividend payments for its next three quarters, joining a list of companies that have moved up payouts ahead of a potential U.S. tax increase next year.

The world’s largest supplier of database software said it will pay one dividend of 18 cents a share, instead of three separate 6 cents-a-share payments for its fiscal second, third and fourth quarters of 2013.

Oracle will issue the dividend Dec. 21 to stockholders of record on Dec. 14, the Redwood Shores, Calif.-based company said Monday.

The dividends would otherwise have been paid in calendar 2013, it said.

Oracle, which is also the second-biggest maker of business management applications, joins more than three dozen companies that have announced plans to pay special dividends ahead of a potential rise in taxes next year related to the so-called fiscal cliff.

Payouts this year are subject to a 15 percent U.S. levy that may rise to as high as 43.4 percent if lawmakers allow $600 billion of scheduled tax increases and spending cuts to take effect in 2013. Rates also may rise if Congress amends the tax code to avoid the cliff.

News Corp. media firm to be named Fox

NEW YORK » News Corp. said Monday that its new publishing company will keep the News Corp. name, while its separate media and entertainment company will be renamed Fox Group.

The conglomerate announced plans this summer to split into two public companies, one for its newspaper and book publishing business and the other for its fast-growing movie and TV operations. Rupert Murdoch will serve as chairman of the new News Corp. and chairman and CEO of Fox Group.

The new News Corp. will house newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal and New York Post as well as Dow Jones Newswires. Fox Group, meanwhile, will include 20th Century Fox film and television studios and the Fox TV channels among other properties.

The company named Wall Street Journal Managing Editor Robert Thomson as CEO of the new News Corp. He’s set to begin his work Jan. 1. Chase Carey will serve as president and chief operating officer of Fox Group. James Murdoch will stay on as deputy chief operating officer of Fox Group.

As part of the changes, News Corp. said it will cease publication of The Daily, its iPad news application, on Dec. 15.

On the Move

The Anthology Marketing Group has announced the following promotions in its public relations division, McNeil Wilson Communications (Travel & Tourism division):

>> Erin Kinoshita to account supervisor from senior account executive

>> Kelley Cho to account executive from assistant account executive

>> Alicia Yoshikami to account executive from assistant account executive

Hawthorne Cat has hired Michael Petersen as a sales representative at its Wai­pahu location. He has 10 years’ experience in Hawaii’s trucking and construction industries.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii has recognized:

>> Curtis T. Nagata as a civilian engineer/architect of the year. He is a construction manager on the facilities, engineering and acquisition division’s Hickam Team.

>> Lt. Christopher W. Archer as a military engineer/architect of the year. He is an assistant public works officer for South Team.