Yamaha Motor Corp. USA in Cypress said its Kennesaw, Ga.-based Outdoor Power Equipment division acquired Subaru Industrial Power Products on undisclosed terms. The Lake Zurich, Ill.-based company makes “multi-purpose engines” used mostly to power large generators and lawnmowers. Subaru’s former Japan-based parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., makes automobiles.
Autobytel Inc. in Irvine sold its specialty finance leads product to El Segundo-based Internet Brands Inc. for $3.2 million in a deal that was expected to close on Dec. 31. The provider of consumer leads and marketing services to auto dealers and manufacturers also anticipates $1.6 million in “transition licensing income” over the next five years. It said the sale allows it to focus on core products.
University of California-Irvine economics professor Peter Navarro was selected by president-elect Donald Trump to oversee a newly created White House National Trade Council. Navarro, 67, wrote “Death by China: How America Lost its Manufacturing Base” in 2011 and produced an accompanying documentary that argued for an aggressive stance against unfair trade practices, such as currency manipulation and worker exploitation. He’s taught economics and public policy at UCI since 1989.
Chapman University plans to pay the city of Orange $6.5 million for a little over 2 acres behind its Panther Village apartments to build additional student housing, the Orange County Register reported. The city approved the sale of the Chapman Avenue property last month.
BDO USA LLP in Irvine named Joe Johnson West Region managing partner and Kristen McCarthy to succeed him in his former role of Orange County assurance managing partner. Former West Region Managing Partner Christopher Tower was named national managing partner for audit quality and professional practice. Johnson reports to Chief Operating Officer Steve Ferrera, and Tower now reports to Chief Executive Wayne Berson.
National placement firm Decision Toolbox in Irvine was acquired on undisclosed terms by Engage2Excel in Statesville, N.C. Engage2Excel says it helps companies “attract, hire, motivate and retain highly engaged employees.” Decision Toolbox Chief Executive Kim Shepherd becomes chairperson of the merged entity.
Resources Connection Inc. in Irvine named Kate W. Duchene president and chief executive. She’d been interim chief executive since Oct. 5, when Anthony Cherbak retired due to health reasons. Resources Connection is the No. 2 management consultant in Orange County.
The San Diego Chargers NFL team plans to lease an office building in Costa Mesa and an adjacent 3.2-acre parcel in case it decides to move to Los Angeles, according to news reports. It’s mulling joining the Rams team at a new stadium in Inglewood. The Chargers agreed to lease the South Susan Street property at the Hive campus, though the lease could be terminated if it decides to stay in San Diego.
A federal judge in Illinois levied a $7.7 million award against Irvine-based Ubiquity Inc. in favor of Gerald North, principal of the former Chicago-based Gerald D.W. North & Associates. The award stems from a federal breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in 2014. The verdict recently was made public after Judge Elaine Bucklo issued the judgment on Oct. 28. North & Associates provided strategic advisory and business development services. Ubiquity Inc. predecessor Ubiquity Holdings in late 2006 entered into a written agreement with North & Associates for the latter to provide it with advisory services. North & Associates uncovered previously undisclosed bankruptcies, as well as pending lawsuits alleging fraud by Ubiquity and its two principals, Connie Jordan and Chris Carmichael, for soliciting funds from elderly members of a religious congregation by false representation, according to the complaint. North & Associates recommended Ubiquity’s board investigate the allegations.
President Barack Obama signed a law to rename the Long Beach Veterans Affairs hospital after Holocaust survivor, decorated war veteran and former Garden Grove resident Tibor Rubin, who died in 2015.
