Amusement
Anaheim retail and entertainment complex Downtown Disney will get a virtual reality experience this year. “Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire” is a joint project between Walt Disney Co.’s Lucasfilm unit and a Utah-based company called The Void, which has done VR projects in other retail-focused locations. A press release from the companies described “an untethered … multi-sensory experience” with interaction between customers and Star Wars characters in “fully immersive social experiences.”
— Paul Hughes
Education
University of California-Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman said all students who received provisional acceptances into UCI will be fully admitted, except those whose transcripts clearly indicate that they didn’t meet its academic standards. That reversed its recent rescinding of admissions for nearly 500 prospective students who’d already been accepted. UCI said then that too many of the approximately 31,000 students who received acceptance letters decided to attend. About 7,100 freshmen were accepted and planned to register this fall, approximately 850 more than the university had planned for. Gillman said UCI will establish an expedited process to allow students who didn’t meet UCI’s academic requirements to make the case for extenuating circumstances. He directed its internal auditor to suggest areas for improvement in the admissions process and issue a preliminary report in 60 days.
— Deirdre Newman
Healthcare
CombiMatrix Corp. in Irvine said it will be bought by Invitae Corp. in San Francisco for $33 million in stock.
CombiMatrix develops cytogenetic testing—chromosome analysis—done during pregnancy. Invitae’s genetic information work focuses on genetic diagnostics for hereditary disorders. In announcing the CombiMatrix deal, it also said it will buy Good Start Genetics in Cambridge, Mass., for $12 million in stock and $24 million in cash, the latter to cover Good Start’s debt. The Boston-area firm does molecular diagnostics focused on preimplantation and carrier screening for inherited disorders. Invitae said it will complete a $73 million private placement to fund strategic growth.
— Sherry Hsieh
Media
Irvine-based Ubiquity Inc. agreed to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s division of enforcement’s recommendation that its stock be revoked. Ubiquity signed a settlement offer, according to the commission. It’s now up to the commission to make the decision final. Ubiquity was supposed to update its filings with the SEC by June 30 but missed the deadline.
— Deirdre Newman
Real Estate
A 3.5-acre Newport Beach property overlooking the harbor sold for an Orange County record of $55 million. The property has two homes, including “the Big Blue House,” a four-bedroom, 3,500-square-foot home built in the 1930s, and a white, six-bedroom, 7,000-square-foot house built in the 1980s. Compass real estate agent Rob Giem, who represented the seller, said the sale price was a county record. The property was owned for years by the family of Kathryn Wheeler, a great-granddaughter of James Irvine, who founded the Irvine Ranch.
— Peter Brennan
Services
Willdan Group Inc. in Anaheim bought Integral Analytics Inc. in Cincinnati. Willdan is an engineering firm that works with utilities, public agencies, and companies on energy efficiency. Integral Analytics makes data analytics and forecasting software for some of the same kinds of clients. Willdan didn’t disclose a purchase price; it said the buy won’t affect 2017 revenue or earnings but will add about $10 million in revenue for 2018.
— Paul Hughes
