EDUCATION
Orange County Department of Education received $15 million from the state to expand the California Multi-Tiered System of Support, a statewide program for “the academic, behavioral and social needs of students,” a press release said. Superintendent of Schools Al Mijares said in a press release that California has put $45 million overall toward his agency’s effort, “to assure that schools are providing this support for all students.”
— Subrina Hudson
HEALTHCARE
Evolus Inc. priced an additional public offering of 4 million shares of common stock at $20 each. The offering consists of 3 million shares offered by the Irvine-based medical aesthetics company and a million shares offered by a selling stockholder. The company projects proceeds of $56.4 million. Evolus focuses on private-pay aesthetic procedures and treatments.
— Sherry Hsieh
HOSPITALITY
Planned OC hotels in the first half of the year, when 63 hotels with about 10,750 rooms were on the drawing board, up 26% and 3% year-over-year, according to Irvine-based Atlas Hospitality Group.
— Paul Hughes
MANUFACTURING
Newport Beach-based True Family Enterprises acquired the assets of meal kit company Chef’d on undisclosed terms. The True Food Innovations unit, which provides fresh food kits to supermarkets and other outlets, will use Chef’d’s assets, which include plant, property, equipment, brand and intangible assets. Chef’d recently ceased operations, citing funding and expense issues. True Family Enterprises, owned by entrepreneurial couple Alan and Twila True, uses a relatively new manufacturing technique called high-pressure processing to extend fresh products’ shelf life without adding preservatives or flavorings. Chef’d was also selling online at Costco Wholesale Corp., where True is expanding.
— Peter J. Brennan
RESTAURANTS
Mountain Mike’s Pizza LLC in Newport Beach said Robofran Development LLC plans to sell 40 franchises over the next 10 years as an area developer in Riverside County and parts of San Bernardino County. San Jose-based Robofran operates six of the chain’s franchises, most in central California. Mountain Mike’s is 14th on the Business Journal’s list of restaurant chains, with $156 million in systemwide 2017 sales. It plans to have 208 locations by year-end.
— Paul Hughes
SERVICES
Brea-based refrigeration and heating company CoolSys bought Energy Squared LLC, a Princeton, N.J., consulting engineering firm providing electrical and refrigeration engineering analysis and design for all types of buildings worldwide. Terms were undisclosed. Energy Squared’s 100 engineers will help Coolsys get involved “at the inception point of projects in existing and new verticals,” said Chief Executive Adam Coffey said. CoolSys has more than 1,400 service and installation technicians for heating and cooling systems.
— Peter J. Brennan
TRANSPORTATION
ACI Jet promoted Joe Daichendt to senior vice president over its fixed-base operations, a new role, and named Nathen Steiger general manager of its FBO facility at John Wayne Airport. Daichendt will still be based at the FBO here. Andrew Robillard remains vice president over ACI FBOs and facilities, according to its website; Steiger reports to him.
— Paul Hughes
