Investors Take Microturbine Maker’s Stock for Spin
ENERGY: Oil and shale gas customers help fuel strong quarter for Capstone.
Business with oil and shale gas companies helps power up shares of microturbine maker Capstone.
Chamber Endorses Greuel
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday endorsed City Controller Wendy Greuel for Los Angeles mayor in next month’s primary election.
Villaraigosa Calls for Tax Hike
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday formally endorsed a half-cent sales tax hike on the March 5 ballot.
Storm, Car Accidents Cut Mercury to the Quick
INSURANCE: Hurricane Sandy, rising auto claims feed fourth-quarter loss.
Rise in expense of car collisions helps crash Mercury’s fourth quarter earnings.
Water Company Makes Big Splash With Investors
UTILITY: American States’ military contracts help lift shares to all-time high.
The performance of its military contracts has American States Water awash in investor enthusiasm.
Support Grows to Retain Tax Break for Angel Investors
Opposition is growing to a state tax board’s recent decision to take away a state tax break for angel investors – and make those who used it pay retroactively.
AEG Evaluating Bids
Local billionaires, major capital equity firms and even sovereign wealth funds have surfaced as potential bidders for the AEG sports and entertainment empire as the second round of bidding enters its final stages.
Levy Change an Angel Downer
TAXES: Loss of break could ground startup investment.
State board pulls plug on break that could have powered up L.A.’s growing tech scene.
Chamber Endorses L.A. Sales Tax Measure
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday voted to endorse the half-cent sales tax measure on the city’s March ballot, citing the need to preserve law enforcement, firefighting and other vital city services.
L.A. City Council Places Medical Marijuana Measure on Ballot
The Los Angeles City Council has voted to place a third initiative regulating medical marijuana dispensaries on the May ballot.
L.A. Mayoral Candidates Mixed on Commitment to Business
Speaking at a debate on jobs and the economy Monday night, the five leading candidates for L.A. mayor promised to eliminate the gross receipts tax on business, streamline the city’s cumbersome permitting process and focus on creating green jobs if elected.
Private Sector To Guide L.A.?
Government: City plans non-profit to boost business.
GOVERNMENT – Business leaders publicly back city of L.A.’s proposed privately run agency to push economic development.
Analysts Give Drug Maker Shot in Arm
BIOTECH: Amgen retains their confidence despite dip in quarterly earnings.
Some analysts give Amgen a healthy prognosis despite industry giant’s drop in fourth quarter earnings.
Absorption, Give-Back Rates Balance Out in Slow Fourth Quarter
REPORTS – After two down quarters, the downtown L.A. office market stabilized during the fourth quarter as fewer firms downsized and the volume of lease deals dropped.
Business Owners Alarmed by Homeless Rights Bill
Los Angeles business people and groups are alarmed by a proposed “homeless bill of rights” measure, introduced last month in Sacramento, which would give the homeless the right to conduct “life-sustaining activities” in public spaces, including in front of businesses.
Out of Place?
Homeless ‘bill of rights’ alarming to business owners
Business owners and groups fear a proposed “bill of rights” for the homeless would obstruct operations.
Pol Positions
Dan Schnur’s years in Republican politics left him the right man to run Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC.
Pundit Dan Schnur checks his politics at the door as director of USC’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics.
Job Growth Slows in L.A.
L.A. County’s job creation machine slowed in December as the unemployment rate remained stuck at 10.2 percent and job payrolls grew by less than 10,000, according to state figures released Friday.
Proposition 13 Faces Left Turn
TAXES: Democrats look to loosen business protections.
Property owners fear Proposition 13’s number could be up with Democrats’ control of Sacramento.
Cheeseburger Contest Hits New Heights
Pasadena chef looks to Mars rover for culinary inspiration.
Cooks look out of this world (Mars rover) and under the sea (sushi rolls) for inspiration in a cheeseburger competition.
Pasadena Insurance Brokerage Bolton & Co. Makes Acquisition
Pasadena insurance brokerage Bolton & Co. has purchased Preferred Specialty Insurance Services of Glendora.
Business Cheers, Jeers New Year
GOVERNMENT: Mixed bag of regulations opened Jan. 1.
New year delivers a mixed bag of laws that will help and hinder state’s smaller businesses.
Dole Stock in Bunch of Pain as Banana Prices Slip
FOOD: Shares also hurt by delay in division’s sale to Japanese company.
Dole’s earnings forecast is tripped up as the price of bananas slips.
Villaraigosa Establishes City Contracting Office
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is creating a city contracting office to ensure that all businesses have equal access to city contracts.
Chevron Sues Edison Mission Energy
A bankrupt unit of Edison International has been sued by Chevron Corp. affiliates, which claim that the unit unfairly rejected a buyout offer and is now forcing them to take on unwanted partners in their joint ventures.
Stocking up
YEAR IN REVIEW: Homebuilders, media rise; energy slips
Local companies shared in the economy’s recovery this year as some stock values soared
L.A. Jobless Rate Falls Slightly
L.A. County’s unemployment rate fell to 10.2 percent in November, its lowest point in nearly four years, according to state figures released Friday.
Education Plan Teaches Lesson
Employment: New savings benefit cost D&B Credibility big effort.
Malibu credit-monitoring firm had to work overtime to devise rare new employee benefit.
Niche Accent Profile: Broadway Federal Bank
From a bank that adheres to Shariah law to one that serves South L.A.’s black community, the Business Journal spotlights six ethnic institutions.
Water Company Gets Line on Mojave Desert Pipe
Cadiz pumps up plan for Mojave Desert aquifer with pipeline deal.
Niche Accent Profile: Manufacturers Bank
From a bank that adheres to Shariah law to one that serves South L.A.’s black community, the Business Journal spotlights six ethnic institutions.
Niche Accent Profile: Eh National Bank
From a bank that adheres to Shariah law to one that serves South L.A.’s black community, the Business Journal spotlights six ethnic institutions.
Report: Hiring May Slow in First Quarter
Hiring in Los Angeles and Orange counties is expected to slow next quarter, according to a new survey from Milwaukee staffing firm Manpower Inc.
Survey: Tax, Fee Hikes May Spur Businesses to Walk
COMMERCE: Levy spikes approved by voters make cities tough to work in.
Voter-approved tax hikes have made some L.A. cities a tougher sell for business, according to survey.
Just In Time For Doomsday
West Hollywood bars, eateries plan party for end of Mayan calendar.
It’s apocalypse now for West Hollywood bars and restaurants planning an end-of-the-world party.
Biofuels Company Sows Seeds of Growth in Brazil
ENERGY: Ceres signs deal with agriculture firm to bolster market presence.
Deal with Swiss agricultural company powers up biofuels maker Ceres’ stock.
Riordan Drops Pension Reform Initiative
Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan on Monday abandoned his controversial planned initiative to overhaul the city’s pension system, saying the campaign couldn’t gather the required signatures by next month’s deadline.
New California Levies Nail Lumberyard
TAXES: Anawalt scrambling to cover state fees and regulations.
Lumberyard owner gets run through the mill trying to keep up with new taxes and fees.
Chip-Testing Company Powers Down Energy Unit
TECHNOLOGY: Trio-Tech seeks new venture to replace oil, gas equipment business.
Chip-testing company Trio-Tech pulls plug on energy equipment business.
L.A. Puts Sales Tax Increase on March Ballot
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to place a half-cent sales tax on the March ballot to close a persistent $200 million budget gap.
Amped Up
USC President C.L. Max Nikias admits he’s a little shocked how his electrical engineering education led to a college administration career.
C.L. Max Nikias grew up in Cyprus, but now fights for the Trojans as president of USC.
Raising Curtain on Rentals
Drapery maker gives cash-conscious clients nonpurchase option.
Draper brings rental business into the fold to serve stage productions.
Sports Chains Run Up Score
retail: Sport Chalet, Big 5 improve inventory and sales.
Ball bounces sporting goods chains’ way as stores improve sales and inventory management.
L.A. County Adds Jobs
Los Angeles County’s jobs recovery continued to pick up steam as the unemployment rate dipped to 10.5 percent in October and employers added 41,000 jobs to their payrolls, according to state figures released Friday.
L.A. Council Votes to Consider Waste Franchise System
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday voted to move ahead with an exclusive franchise waste hauling system for most commercial and multifamily properties in the city.
L.A. Council Moves to Put Sales Tax Hike on Ballot
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the March ballot.
Higher Wage At Hotels In Long Beach
Long Beach hoteliers and business leaders were dismayed last week after the overwhelming passage of a measure requiring operators of the city’s major hotels to pay their employees a “living wage.”
Looking For Boom In Busts
Law firm’s new website aims to help cities avoid bankruptcy.
Greenberg & Bass hopes to find money in helping cash-strapped cities avoid bankruptcy
Business Owners Boo Supermajorities
POLITICS: Some see only trouble in Democrats’ control of Statehouse.
Some business owners fear the Democrats’ supermajorities in Sacramento mean more taxes, regulations and lawsuits.
Duarte and Whittier Named Most Business Friendly
Duarte and Whittier have been named as L.A. County’s most business-friendly cities.
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