General Electric, which last year cut its shareholder dividend for the first time since the Great Depression, may resume increases in 2011 and repurchase stock for the first time since 2008 amid a “snapback” at the finance unit, Chief Financial Officer Keith Sherin said.

“We’d like to grow the dividend in 2011,” Sherin told investors Tuesday at a conference in Boston organized by Goldman Sachs Group. The outlook for the remainder of 2010 has become clearer since the company discussed fourth-quarter results in January, he said. “We’ve got better visibility around financial services. If you think about 2011, we believe we’re going to have GE earnings growth.”

Economic forums draw crowds for feedback

Vision 2020, an economic planning effort sponsored by the Northeast Indiana Foundation, has drawn hundreds of participants, the initiative’s coordinating group announced Tuesday.

Meetings last week in 10 northeast Indiana counties drew nearly 400 participants who helped refine proposals to improve the regional economy. In February, more than 200 northeast Indiana leaders participated in interviews and focus groups.

Vision 2020 will present a public Regional Economic Summit at Grand Wayne Center.

Intellitek eliminates software user fees

A tech startup is revamping its business model by removing software user fees. Intellitek Systems of Fort Wayne made the announcement Tuesday.

The company provides customer service and accounting software to small to midsized businesses. President Matthew May said eliminating the fees will save firms about $18,000 a year.

“This could change the game, change the way companies are billed,” said May, who operates out of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, 3201 Stellhorn Road.

End-user fees are charges business customers pay for using software developed by another company. To recoup the charges, May said his business will offer consulting and social-networking programs to clients. He expects to reach $500,000 in annual sales for the year.

Testosterone lotion rights sold to Lilly

Eli Lilly & Co., the maker of the impotence pill Cialis, bought exclusive rights from Australia’s Acrux Ltd. to an underarm testosterone lotion called Axiron for men with limited sex drive due to low levels of the hormone.

Indianapolis-based Lilly will pay Acrux a $50 million license fee plus $3 million when manufacturing assets are transferred, the companies said Tuesday. Acrux, based in Melbourne, Australia, may earn $87 million more if U.S. regulators approve the drug for marketing, $195 million in commercial milestone payments and royalty payments on future sales, the companies said.

Delta alters operations at Cincinnati airport

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Tuesday that it plans to reduce operations at Cincinnati’s main airport from two concourses to one and take over the functions of a subsidiary that now provides ground-handling services at the airport.

The changes starting May 1 could lead to layoffs for 840 Regional Elite Airline Services employees who now handle ground operations such as gate, ticket counter and ramp duties for Delta Connection carriers at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Regional Airport.