Grace Schneider

@gesinfk

A financial services firm with global operations is planning a $20 million expansion and adding 850 jobs in downtown Louisville.

Computershare Inc., which provides employee stock and investor relations services to corporate clients, opened an office for 250 employees in the Meidinger Tower at Fourth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard in April 2015 with a $12 million investment.

On Thursday, the company unveiled plans to grow its operations from 250 to 1,100 employees. The jobs pay a total of $30 per hour with benefits. Its initial investment of $12,062,000 is reported to grow to $32 million.

“We are excited to continue to expand our operations in the city of Louisville,” Frank Madonna, executive vice president of operations, said in a statement. “We feel like we are a part of the local business community and Computershare is growing and thriving in this city.”

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority first approved the company for tax incentives up to $2.5 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program in spring 2015. The performance-based incentives allow companies to keep a portion of an investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments for meeting job and investment targets.

Computershare's new incentives will increase to $13.2 million, in part because the projected hourly wage and benefit package increased from $20 to $30 an hour. The term of the agreement extends 10 years, with all 1,100 job added in four years.

The company listed hiring for two job categories in Louisville, customer service representatives and implementation managers, according to the website.

Reporter Grace Schneider can be reached at 502-582-4082 or gschneider@courier-journal.com.

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