Recently added articles from Los Angeles Business Journal:
Control issues: video game makers find big sales go hand in hand with simple controllers.(Activision Blizzard Inc.)
Jun 15, 2009; ... TO convince more people to buy its video games, Activision Blizzard Inc. is relying on plastic guitars, disc jockey turntables and motion-sensing skateboards. These are the new generation of video game controllers on current and upcoming Activision titles, and they've been ...
No relief in sight for state contractors: stalled projects hit businesses already owed money.(GOVERNMENT)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Businesses that contract with the state have already suffered because of delayed payments and cancellation of contracts. Now they' re bracing for more pain. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week issued an executive order that retroactively canceled contracts and made deep cuts to ...
Lead penalties play rough with L.A. toymakers: rules to hike company costs, product prices.(MANUFACTURING)
Jun 15, 2009; ... The fallout from the lead contamination crisis that rocked the toy industry two years ago--culminating in Mattel Inc. recalling about 2 million items made in China--is striking fear through Los Angeles' many toy companies. They are concerned because they now face civil penalties ...
Tall order for local sign maker: shop got four days to dress Staples Center for NBA Finals.(UP FRONT)(National Basketball Association)(MBE Digital)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009; ... This month one of the biggest signs in Los Angeles doesn't say "Hollywood" on it. That's because the Staples Center has a ginormous (152 foot wide by 72 foot tall) Los Angeles Lakers banner plastered across its facade in celebration of the team's ascent to the Finals. ...
Designers' discount duds a hit: recession inspires Rock & Republic's line of bargain apparel.(UP FRONT)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Saving money has become so fashionable in this recession that sellers of premium goods and services are introducing bargain deals. Well, bargains for Beverly Hills, anyway. The latest example: Rock & Republic Enterprises Inc. soon will roll out blue jeans that sell for $148, ...
Council looking to trade up: business group urges Angelenos to look north to Canadian cousins.(UP FRONT)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Angelenos could ask why Los Angeles needs to be any friendlier than it already is with Canada, since that country has long been taking film and TV production from here. Yet a local group has formed to tighten the business ties between California and Canada. Actually, the goal of ...
Lawyers show Cannes-do attitude.(PAGE 3)(Cannes Film Festival)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Gary Concoff, has traveled to the Cannes Film Festival more than a couple of dozen times, but he isn't an actor. He's one of a handful of L.A. entertainment lawyers who trek to France every spring to negotiate film financing deals and, of course, to enjoy a lunch or two on the French ...
Chinese connection.(PAGE 3)(University of Southern California. School of Architecture)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009; ... There's a new Chinese architecture prize that has some local roots. Qingyun Ma, dean of the USC Architecture School, is the founding director and a jury member of the new Ordos Prize. The international prize is at least partly the result of Ma's relationship with Cai Jiang, an ...
MGA setback: A U.S. appeals court denied MGA Entertainment Inc.'s request to halt the transfer of its Bratz fashion doll business to rival Mattel Inc.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... MGA SETBACK: A U.S. appeals court denied MGA Entertainment Inc.'s request to halt the transfer of its Bratz fashion doll business to rival Mattel Inc. The Van Nuys toymaker had filed an emergency appeal asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stay an injunction granted by U.S ....
Sale stalled: a federal bankruptcy judge ruled that bankrupt auto parts supplier Delphi Corp., which is set to be acquired by Beverly Hills private equity firm Platinum Equity for $3.6 billion, must seek outside bidders.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jun 15, 2009 ... SALE STALLED: A federal bankruptcy judge ruled that bankrupt auto parts supplier Delphi Corp., which is set to be acquired by Beverly Hills private equity firm Platinum Equity for $3.6 billion, must seek outside bidders. Judge Robert Drain said the government-brokered sale to Platinum, ...
Fund raising: CB Richard Ellis Inc. said hedge fund operator Paulson & Co. will buy $100 million in stock as part of a $550 million capital-raising effort.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... FUND RAISING: CB Richard Ellis Inc. said hedge fund operator Paulson & Co. will buy $100 million in stock as part of a $550 million capital-raising effort. UA. real estate company CBRE plans to sell $400 million in ...
Cost cutting: Internet technology company Ixia will lay off up to 10 percent of its work force and implement other cost savings as part of a restructuring initiative.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... COST CUTTING: Internet technology company Ixia will lay off up to 10 percent of its work force and implement other cost savings as part of a restructuring initiative. About 75 to 80 positions ...
Bankruptcy proposal: Tribune Co.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jun 15, 2009 ... BANKRUPTCY PROPOSAL: Tribune Co., parent of the Los Angeles Times, and its creditors are in the early stages of negotiating a plan of reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court that sources said likely would ...
Settlement reached: L.A.-based Pom Wonderful reached a confidential settlement with Fresherized Foods Inc. over allegations that the Texas food supplier falsely advertised its juice as being 100 percent pomegranate.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... SETTLEMENT REACHED: L.A.-based Pom Wonderful reached a confidential settlement with Fresherized Foods Inc. over allegations that the Texas food supplier falsely advertised its juice as being 100 percent pomegranate. Pom Wonderful, owned by L.A ....
Contract approved.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Screen Actors Guild approved a new contract with major studios)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... CONTRACT APPROVED: Screen Actors Guild members overwhelmingly approved a new contract with the major studios. The 78 percent approval for a vote is seen as a ...
Moratorium extended.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Los Angeles, California. City Council)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... MORATORIUM EXTENDED: The Los Angeles City Council moved to close a loophole that had encouraged the rapid growth of medical marijuana dispensaries over the past year. When the city adopted the moratorium in 2007, it allowed 186 dispensaries to stay open. Now ...
Sponsorship deal: Farmers Insurance Group has signed a multiyear agreement to put its corporate logo on the jerseys of the Los Angeles Sparks women's professional basketball team.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... SPONSORSHIP DEAL: Farmers Insurance Group has signed a multiyear agreement to put its corporate logo on the jerseys of the Los Angeles Sparks women's professional basketball team. The L.A. insurer, a unit of Swiss conglomerate Zurich Financial Services, will spend more than $1 million per ...
Magazines acquired: OpenGate.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(OpenGate Capital acquired Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. TV Guide Publishing Group)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... MAGAZINES ACQUIRED: OpenGate Capital, the L.A. private equity firm that bought TV Guide magazine in the fall, said Monday that it had a definitive agreement to acquire two youth publication divisions from French media giant Groupe Le Monde. The ...
Cherokee Inc.(EARNINGS)
Jun 15, 2009 ... EARNINGS: Cherokee Inc. reported first quarter net income of $3.8 million, ...
99 Cents Only Stores.(EARNINGS)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... 99 Cents Only Stores reported fourth quarter net income of $7 million, compared with a ...