TOP STORIES
Buy.com Inc. founder Scott Blum’s Aliso Viejo-based Enfrastructure Inc., which seeks to build high-tech business campuses across the country, received $100 million in backing from Microsoft, IBM and others … Broadcom Corp. co-founders Henry Nicholas and Henry Samueli tied for No. 18 on Forbes magazine’s list of the 400 richest Americans, at $10 billion each; The Irvine Company’s Don Bren was No. 61 at $4 billion; other OC residents on the list were Vincent Smith and David Doyle of Quest Software Inc. and Anne Catherine Getty Earhart … A group of congressmen asked the FDA to recall Irvine-based Taco Bell Corp.’s branded taco shells because they contain genetically engineered corn not approved for human consumption; the shells are made by Kraft … An appeals court overruled a lower court and cleared a San Clemente anti-growth initiative for the November ballot … Rbid.com Inc., Irvine, received a $210 million debt commitment from Marathon Inc., to be used for acquisitions.
TECHNOLOGY
Verizon Wireless plans to invest $125 million in its OC network in the next year … DDi Corp., Anaheim, bought Golden Manufacturing Inc., Garland, Texas for $14.9 million (see related story, page 1) A study released by The Irvine Company said OC is second only to Silicon Valley in producing chips for high-speed Internet access … NASA cleared Boeing Co.’s Space and Communications unit in Huntington Beach to resume work on a backup propulsion system for the international space station, which had been halted in July because of projected cost overruns … Worldwide Wireless Networks Inc., Orange, received a contract to install a wireless wide-area network at the county Civic Center complex … MPEG Super Site Inc., Lake Forest, will merge with Nevada-based Stuart Communications Corp. to form Colosseum Sports and Entertainment Inc. … Autobytel.com Inc., Irvine, said it plans to report better-than-expected third-quarter financials … Broadcom Corp., Irvine, unveiled a chip to enable phone service over cable TV lines; rival Conexant Systems Inc. unveiled chips for global positioning systems and data routing and a new design for digital cameras that can reduce their size and power needs; meanwhile, Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli gave Chapman University, Orange, $1.5 million to start an undergraduate program in computer science … Cerplex Group Inc., Irvine, sold the assets of its U.S. computer parts business to Alorica Inc., Chino … Luke Brown resigned as president and COO of MAI Systems Corp., Irvine, and his duties were assumed by CEO W. Brian Kretzmer … ICX Electronics.com, San Clemente, formed a Singapore subsidiary, ICX Electronics Asia Pte. Ltd., which is 40% owned by Magnecomp International Ltd. … Interplay Entertainment Corp., Irvine, will distribute Rage Software PLC’s games in North America … Emulex Corp., Costa Mesa, opened an engineering design center in Longmont, Colo. … Mcglen Internet Group Inc., Tustin, hired Josephthal & Co. as its financial and investment banking adviser.
GOVERNMENT
Supervisors approved a lawsuit settlement that will require a four-fifths board vote to hire outside counsel in connection with the proposed El Toro airport; they also voted to study whether to convert former military quarters on the closed El Toro base to affordable housing … Supervisors approved the incorporation of Aliso Viejo, clearing the way for a March 6 vote by residents … A consultant hired by the Sierra Club said the proposed Foothill (261) South Toll Road is not financially feasible … Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Anaheim, canceled a planned fund-raiser with President Clinton at the Anaheim Hills home of Ed and Sonya Grech after Clinton staffers said he could not stay for dinner.
HEALTHCARE
Bergen Brunswig Corp., Orange, completed the sales of Stadtlander Pharmacy to CVS Corp. for $124 million and Corrections pharmacy to America Service Group Inc. for $28 million … TriZetto Group Inc., Newport Beach, received a seven-year, $50 million contract from Maxicare Health Plans Inc. for Internet services … Dissident 8.5% stakeholder Special Situations Partners Inc. met with other shareholders of ICN Pharaceuticals Inc., Costa Mesa, to detail objections to ICN’s proposed breakup and explain its alternative plan; meanwhile, ICN said it will acquire Medical Alliance Inc. for $14.4 million … PharmaPrint Inc., Irvine, received $1.5 million in a private placement with Kingsway International Holdings Ltd.; the two firms formed a joint venture to manufacture and distribute herbal products in Asia … Techniclone Corp., Tustin, and Berlex Laboratories Inc. began phase 1 trials of Techniclone’s drug to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
REAL ESTATE
The Fullerton City Council approved the 1,250-home Amerige Heights development at the former Hughes Aircraft site now owned by Raytheon Corp. … The Orange Planning Commission recommended the City Council approve The Irvine Company’s proposed 1,746-home Santiago Hills II project … Burnham Pacific Properties Inc. is selling the Westminster Center retail center as part of a 19-property deal with GMS Realty valued at $305 million … The California Job Journal sued Pacific Gulf Properties Inc., Newport Beach, alleging a Sacramento building the journal leases from Pacific Gulf is contaminated with toxic mold that made its employees sick; the building is one of nine Pacific Gulf is in the process of selling to the California Public Employees Retirement System … El Pollo Loco, Irvine, contracted with Atlanta-based Service Resources Inc. to manage it real estate.
WHAT’S NEW
Prolong International Corp., Irvine, said it will cut its workforce 30% … Standard & Poor’s lowered its outlook on Irvine-based Edison Mission Energy Co. from “stable” to “negative” … LA-based Patina Group, headed by Joachim and Christine Splichal, will operate the cafe in the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana … Knott’s Berry Farm opened its Perilous Plunge water ride … Disneyland said it will close its Rocket Rods ride this week until at least April, to overhaul it; meanwhile, four former Disneyland employees settled their wrongful-termination claims against the park … The UCI Graduate School of Management was ranked among BusinessWeek magazine’s top 50 U.S. business schools … Jason Allen Diekman of Mission Viejo was arrested for allegedly hacking into NASA’s computer system and hundreds of others … The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development sanctioned three OC mortgage lenders,Mt. Pacific Investment Capital, Anaheim; Unicor Funding Inc., Mission Viejo; and Alpha America Financial Inc., Costa Mesa,for improper lending practices … Robert H. Newcomb, 80, former owner of the venerable Newcomb’s Shoes on 4th Street in Santa Ana, died at his home.
