Los Angeles Business Journal back issues from July 2007:
Sunset Gower Studios sell for $200 million: Hudson Capital may have eye on developing historic site.(REAL ESTATE)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Sunset Gower Studios is changing hands for just over $200 million, with commercial real estate firm Hudson Capital LLC and an unnamed capital partner picking up the historic property--which was marketed as a "redevelopment opportunity." Headed by veteran real estate player ...
Burbank contractor is taking on Goliath: small firm alleges fraud by state compensation fund.(INSURANCE)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Javier Primera, the president and owner of Burbank construction contractor Acro Constructors Inc., wouldn't appear to have a huge gripe against California's State Compensation Insurance Fund. After all, he's only been a customer of the quasi-governmental insurer since 2004, when ...
Santa Monica's dubious honor: bayside city now county's costliest for business.(SURVEY)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Santa Monica now has the unwanted distinction of being the costliest L.A. County city to do business in, knocking Los Angeles off its long-held perch. The bayside city, which had been a perennial runner-up for the costliest title, finally overtook Los Angeles last year, thanks ...
Cancer survivor Tauzin a powerful ally for Amgen.(Up Front)(Billy Tauzin)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Cancer survivor Billy Tauzin, former congressman and now head of the pharmaceutical industry's leading trade group, is passionate about promoting the biotech end of an industry that helped save his life a few years ago. And as the former chairman of the House committee that ...
Eco-beat: online concert firm goes green for Live Earth.(Up Front)(Control Room signed deals with Microsoft Network L.L.C. and DIRECTV Inc.)
Jul 02, 2007; ... CONTROL Room usually refers to a technical space, but in L.A. it's a company that has become an online concert giant in short order--and an unlikely environmental advocate, too. The Beverly Hills-based entertainment company, owned by veteran concert and tour producer Kevin Wall, ...
Passport expediting firms blocked from addressing massive backlog.(Up Front)
Jul 02, 2007; ... At a time when passports are in record high demand, it would seem that private companies that expedite their processing would be smiling all the way to the bank. But not when government regulations trump the laws of supply and demand. Although a new requirement that ...
Feeling the heat.(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... NORTHROP Grumman Corp., along with several other major defense contractors, got some unwanted attention last week when a House committee report shined a bright light on the government's sometimes suspect contracting practices. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House ...
Emergency care.(News of the Week)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... Los Angeles County supervisors last week retreated from earlier threats to close troubled Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital, opting instead to give administrators time to prepare for a last-chance federal inspection later this month. Hospital supporters argued that staff would ...
Rock star.(News of the Week)(Guitar Center Inc. acquires Bain Capital Partners LLC)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... Guitar Center Inc. agreed to be purchased by Boston-based private equity firm Bain Capital Partners LLC for $1.9 billion in cash and $200 million worth of debt. Bain offered $63 per share, a 26 percent premium over Guitar ...
Sight error.(News of the Week)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... The Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to Monrovia-based biotech firm Staar Surgical--Co. outlining four compliance failures regarding the trials it ...
Port pollution.(News of the Week)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach said they will extend by 60 days the evaluation period for a controversial program aimed at reducing emissions from the 16,000 short haul trucks serving the port complex. The ports' harbor commissioners were set to vote on the Clean Trucks Program in ...
Growing up.(News of the Week)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... Lancaster ranked No. 10 and Palmdale was No. 25 in a U.S. Census Bureau survey of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. They were the only two L.A. County cities on the list, topped by North Las Vegas, which saw its population grow by 13 percent over last year. Lancaster has a population ...
Go fourth.(News of the Week)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... Fourth of July travel is expected to increase by 1.5 percent compared to last year, with nearly 3.6 million Southern Californians and 5.7 million statewide expected to take holiday trips, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Of that, more than 80 percent of the ...
Gores funds.(News of the Week)(Alec Gores)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... L.A. billionaire investor Alec Gores' second investment fund, Gores Capital Partners II, closed after raising $1.3 billion in commitments, making it one of the largest based in Southern California. The fund's plans call for taking control of companies valued at between ...
Strike update.(News of the Week)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... Contract negotiations between Southern California's three major supermarket chains and representatives of 65,000 union workers resumed tales for the first time since the United Food and Commercial Workers union voted to authorize a strike on June 24. Among the issues discussed was how much ...
Correction.(Correction notice)
Jul 02, 2007 ... The June 18 article "U.K. Grocer Tesco Plans to Open Store in South Central L.A." misstated the mission of the Los Angeles ...
Man of the People's: can promising denim firm's new CEO guide it to profitability?(News & Analysis)(People's Liberation Inc.)
Jul 02, 2007; ... FOR new chief executive Colin Dyne, driving the promising L.A. denim company People's Liberation Inc. into profitability represents more than a business opportunity. It is a chance for redemption. Dyne co-founded zipper manufacturer Tag-it Pacific Inc. in the early ...
Electronics firm Teledyne might be boring but it's thriving.(Corporate Analysis)(Teledyne Technologies Inc.)
Jul 02, 2007; ... When equity analyst Chris Quilty makes the case to investors for Teledyne Technologies Inc. he likens the Los Angeles-based electronics components maker to another company whose name is recognizable but most people know little about--the German chemical maker BASF. BASF's catchy ...
Another merger.(LAW)(Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava and MacCuish L.L.P.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... The urge to merge among California law firms continues. Los Angeles-based law firm Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP is in merger discussions with Miller Starr Regalia PC, a Walnut Creek law firm. The merger would combine two California regional firms that are ...
Mock trial.(LAW)(Bingham McCutchen and Heart of Los Angeles organization)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Last week U.S. District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall's courtroom was the scene of an unusual trial, with an equally unusual jury. The case involved a person accused of setting off firecrackers in a school locker, and the jury set to deliberate in the case included local ...
Sheffield pays $16 million for two aerospace suppliers: machining products maker scoops up Hermach and Fortune.(TAKEOVERS)(Sheffield Manufacturing Inc. acquires Hermach Machine Inc. and Fortune Manufacturing Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... THE aerospace industry may be in a decline, but it's far from moribund. Sheffield Manufacturing Inc., a Los Angeles precision machining products maker, announced late last month the $16 million acquisition of a pair of longtime aerospace suppliers. In an effort to increase its ...
Hot steel.(Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. to acquire Clayton Metals Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... The steel industry is surging and at least one local company is looking to benefit. Reliance Steel & Aluminum Corp., a Los Angeles metals processor, announced it will acquire Clayton Metals Inc., a Wood Dale, Ill., processor and distributor of steel, aluminum, copper and brass ...
League re-evaluates its business model: Nike's sponsorship allows Summer Pro organization to survive.(BASKETBALL)(Los Angeles Lakers)
Jul 02, 2007; ... EARVIN "Magic" Johnson and Kobe Bryant are just two of more than 1,000 current and former NBA players that have passed through Long Beach's Summer Pro League during its 38-year history. At its peak, 16 National Basketball Association teams fielded teams of young players and ...
Football first.(SPORTS BUSINESS)
Jul 02, 2007; ... More than 90,000 fans are expected to pack the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to see the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer compete with Chivas de Guadalajara in SuperLiga on July 28. The game is sanctioned as part of the eight-team SuperLiga tournament that will be held ...
Business Journal honors.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(THE LOS Angeles Business Journal )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007 ... THE LOS Angeles Business Journal won a gold award for best headlines and two bronzes, including one in the important category of best newspaper, at the annual Editorial Excellence Awards sponsored by the Alliance of Area Business Publications. The gold award was for headlines by ...
Newspaper consolidates.(Torrance)(Providence Health Systems acquires The Daily Breeze )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Newspaper Consolidates: The Daily Breeze newspaper has sold its long time office and production facilities to Providence Health Systems-Southern California for $18.6 million. The sale includes two buildings: an 86,556-square-foot ...
Tent space.(Torrance)(Aztec Tents)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Tent Space: Aztec Tents, a Torrance-based company that designs and manufactures semi-permanent and permanent tents for the special events industry, has moved its headquarters. The company recently signed a 10-year lease for a ...
Philanthropic expansion.(Long Beach)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Philanthropic Expansion: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California announced plans to open a location in Long Beach to serve Miller Children's Hospital, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and St. Mary Medical Center. Families with children undergoing treatment at these or other local ...
Offices purchased.(Inglewood)(LBA Realty Fund Co. purchased office buildings from Greenlaw Partners)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Offices Purchased: LBA Realty Fund Co. purchased two office buildings at 5220 and 5230 Pacific Concourse Dr. in Inglewood from ...
Designer swimwear.(Vernon)(True Religion Apparel Inc. licensing agreement with InGear Swimwear LLC.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Designer Swimwear: True Religion Apparel Inc. is expanding its merchandise offerings with the announcement of a licensing agreement with Miami, Fla.-based InGear Swimwear LLC. Through the ...
Landmark sold.(Echo Park)(Sebren Development Inc. sold Jensen's Recreation Center to Prana Investments )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Landmark Sold: L.A.-based Sebren Development Inc. sold Jensen's Recreation Center to Prana Investments for $8.4 million or about $182,609 per unit. The building, constructed in 1924 by Henry Christian Jensen, was originally ...
Fuel financing secured.(Brentwood)(AltraBiofuels)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Fuel Financing Secured: AltraBiofuels, a producer of renewable biofuels, has secured $166 million of additional debt financing for the construction of two ethanol ...
Blu living.(Beverly Hills)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Blu Living: Lease reservations are being taken for a new 11-story contemporary apartment building in Beverly Hills called Blu, scheduled to open in late summer 2007. Blu was developed by Beverly Hills-based ...
Property sale.(Marina del Rey)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Property Sale: Archstone-Smith, a Colorado-based apartment investment and operations company, purchased two industrial buildings in Marina del Rey for $36 million, or about $343.50 per square foot. Welk Real Estate ...
Outdoor Marketing.(West Hollywood)(Fuel Outdoor)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Outdoor Marketing: New York City-based Fuel Outdoor, an outdoor advertisement company specializing in billboards, walls, scaffolding, and display panels, is launching a business division called Fuel West. Fuel Outdoor already owns 500 advertising assets between its Los Angeles ...
Green upgrade.(Santa Monica)(CaseStack Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Green Upgrade: CaseStack, a Santa Monica-based logistic outsourcing company, is providing its clients with trucks that run on 100 percent biodiesel fuel made from vegetable oils and animal fats. The company also offers partial reimbursement for biodiesel fuel costs. The company implements ...
New headquarters.(Alhambra)(Characters Kids Love Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... New Headquarters: Characters Kids Love Inc., a catering and event planning firm, recently moved from Culver City to a 10,000-square-foot space in Alhambra. The new location at 1000 S. Fremont Ave. in the Alhambra, a 45-acre office campus, will include ...
Kabuki expands.(Burbank)(Kabuki Restaurants Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Kabuki Expands: Burbank-based Kabuki Restaurants Inc., a Japanese restaurant chain, announced its first venture outside of Southern California. Two locations in Tempe and Glendale, Arizona will begin ...
First round financing.(Pasadena)(VantageILM Inc)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... First Round Financing: VantageILM Inc., a Pasadena-based provider of on-demand loan management software, raised $1.3 million in its first round of venture capital financing. Giant Step Angel Network led the financing. Pasadena Angels, Stonnington ...
Completion bonds come to video game world: policies include monitoring of daily production at companies.(GUARANTEES)(Film Finances Inc. appoints Tom Petit )
Jul 02, 2007; ... Completion bonds, long a staple in film financing, are now moving into the video game publishing industry. Film Finances, a Los Angeles-based completion bond company, recently hired a 30-year video game industry veteran Tom Petit out of retirement to head its interactive ...
Producers hope record payout will pay off in syndication: ex-'Survivor' contestant creates reality show that offers a $10 million prize.(TELEVISION)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... A new syndicated show promises to award what it calls "the biggest cash prize in the history of reality television--$10 million." The show, titled "Tontine," seems willing to test the limits of diminishing returns for a TV program. While history proves that contestants will ...
Upscale Niche.(MEDIA)(Niche Media)
Jul 02, 2007; ... The parent corporation of Beverly Hills-based magazine "L.A. Confidential" has merged with two similar companies to create a portfolio of 16 upscale city publications. Niche Media. owner of "Confidential," will combine with Nevada-based Greenspun Media Group and Ocean Drive ...
BizBash a smash.(MEDIA)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... BizBash.com, a Web site about the corporate events industry, held a marketing event of its own with the first Los Angeles Event Style Show Expo on June 27. Through presentations by local event planners and celebrities, the show taught the basics of L.A. style for the company party set. ...
LBI Media Inc.(News & Notes)(KPNZ-TV)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Burbank-based LBI Media Inc. has signed an agreement to buy KPNZ-TV (Channel 24) in Salt Lake City for $10 million. LBI, known as Libennan Broadcasting, already ...
The Southern California Broadcasters Association has elected an executive board with Greg Ashlock as chairman.(News & Notes)(appointments)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... The Southern California Broadcasters Association has elected an executive board with Greg Ashlock as chairman. Ashlock serves as L.A. market manager for Clear Channel Communications. Returning board members include Val Maki-Candido, vice-president of Emmis Radio; ...
Mediawatch.(HOLLYWOOD)(Statistical table)
Jul 02, 2007 ... <Pre> MEDIAWATCH MOVIE BOX OFFICE WeekendTotalGross Gross Rank Title(mils)(mils) 1Evan Almighty $32.1 32.1 21408 ...
Beverly Hills moves to Rekindle Romance with ICM: city enters into talks with talent agency about moving from Century City.(LEASING)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... INTERNATIONAL, Creative Management Inc. is in exclusive negotiations, but this time it's with a city rather than an A-list star. Last week, the Beverly Hills City Council voted to open discussions with the talent agency. which last year packed up and left the city for shiny new ...
Angeleno to head AFI.(ENTERTAINMENT)(American Film Institute)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Bob Gazzale was named head of the American Film Institute last week, becoming just the third person to head the institution since it's creation by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967. Gazzale, an L.A.-based film historian and multiple Emmy-nominated television producer and ...
Innovative imagination.(ENTERTAINMENT)(Imagination International Corp.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Imagination International Corp. just brought home a Stevie Award, an accolade bestowed at the annual American Business Awards, for "most innovative company up to 2,500 employees." Imagination specializes in interactive DVD games, which have had a sudden and significant impact on ...
Think inside the box: Nicole Jaffe's Yellow Box Beauty Inc. sends samples to subscribers.(Innovation)
Jul 02, 2007; ... ABOUT 18 months ago, Nicole Jaffe decided she'd had it with Hollywood. She'd spent five years working in entertainment marketing and several years before that with a talent agency. She didn't want to work for anyone, either, so the obvious choice was to start a business. After ...
Buying a domain name too costly? Think about leasing: L.A. firm targets small businesses with limited offers on 500,000 addresses.(INTERNET)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... IN a world where popular domain names sell for $1 million or more, it makes sense that people should be able to lease them. Jonathan Boswell launched LeaseThis.com, a company that does just that. "It's like starting a business and only having the option of buying a building to ...
DevZuz CEO.(TECHNOLOGY)(appointment of Dave Parker )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Dave Parker has been appointed chief executive of Marina Del Rey-based DevZuz, an open source software provider. Parker was previously the founding president of WebLogic, acquired by BEA Systems. DevZuz, formerly Simula Labs, recently secured $9.25 ...
AssistMed purchase.(TECHNOLOGY)(AssistMed Inc. acquires Clinication)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... L.A.-based AssistMed Inc., a developer for the electronic health record market, acquired Clinication. a software provider, for an undisclosed price. The company will use the Clinication software to help patients manage long-term care and ...
General invitations.(TECHNOLOGY)(CircleUp Inc.)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... L.A.-based CircleUp Inc., which created a fancy way to send and collect mass e-mails for users, secured its first round of $3 million in venture funding from Sid R. Bass Associates. CircleUp.com functions almost like Evite.com, the popular electronic invitation site, but for ...
The loan arranger: mortgage broker Mark Cohen, who did more than $1 billion in business last year, has turned his real estate roots and relentless energy into a powerful force in the industry.(People)(Interview)
Jul 02, 2007; ... MARK Cohen comes from a family of real estate industry entrepreneurs. From grandparents who owned a local hotel to a mother who started a local mortgage brokerage, Cohen has been surrounded by family members with a knack for the business. So, he says it wasn't a surprise to those who knew ...
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC.(Accounting)(promotion of Martha Corbett )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Martha Corbett has been promoted to market managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC's Southern California, Phoenix and ...
U.S. Trust.(Banking & Finance)(appointment of Scott Marantz )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... U.S. Trust has named Scott Marantz as senior vice president and relationship manager in its Los Angeles ...
Stone & Youngberg.(Banking & Finance)(appointment of Terry Maas )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Stone & Youngberg, an investment firm, has hired Terry Maas as managing director for the firm's public finance group. Maas, who will be based in L.A. and Phoenix, was previously a ...
New City Public Schools.(Education)(appointment of Bruce Alexander )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... New City Public Schools, a Long Beach-based charter education management organization, has named Bruce Alexander as ...
David Wilson has joined PhiTex Energy Group Inc., a joint-venture company between Providential Energy Corp. and Unitex Oil and Gas LLC, as president.(Energy)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... David Wilson has joined PhiTex Energy Group Inc., a joint-venture company between Providential Energy ...
Steve Collins has joined Opus 1 Music Library as vice president of business development.(Entertainment)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Steve Collins has joined Opus 1 Music Library as vice president of business development. Collins was ...
Workforce Investment Board.(Government)(appointment of Gregory P. Irish)(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Workforce Investment Board, a Los Angeles city agency dedicated to advancing opportunities for workers, has named Gregory P. Irish ...
Destination Hotels & Resorts' Terranea Resort.(Hospitality)(appointment of Ron Sandvig )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Ron Sandvig has been hired as director of sales for Destination Hotels & Resorts' Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, ...
Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa.(Hospitality)(appointment of Will Wiest )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa has appointed Will Wiest to the position of director of ...
Century Group.(Human Resources)(appointment of Michelle Fanner )(Brief article)
Jul 02, 2007; ... Century Group, a professional services firm specializing in project consulting in accounting and finance, has hired Michelle Fanner as associate director for ...