Los Angeles Economic, Social, and Demographic Data

[Westsidelife]

Reliance closes on Metalweb

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 2, 2007

On Tuesday, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. completed its purchase of Metalweb plc.

Birmingham, England-based Metalweb will operate as a subsidiary of Reliance, with current management remaining in place.

Terms of the deal, which was first announced in September, were not disclosed.

Metalweb has three other service centers located in Manchester, London and Oxford, England, according to a release. The company specializes in the processing and distribution of primarily aluminum products for non-structural aerospace components and general engineering parts for high-end industrial applications. The company had net sales of about $53 million in its fiscal year ended May 31, 2007, according to a release.

Los Angeles-based Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS) is a metals service center with more than 180 locations in 37 states and Belgium, Canada, China and South Korea.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

ABC leads ratings first week of new TV season

By Steve Gorman
October 2, 2007

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - ABC, seeking to reignite a ratings turnaround that faltered last year, finished the first week of the new broadcast season as the No. 1 U.S. network in prime time, Nielsen Media Research said on Tuesday.

Buoyed by such hits as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Dancing with the Stars," ABC ranked as the most watched network overall for the week ended September 30 and tied with NBC for first place among viewers aged 18 to 49, the group most prized by advertisers.

The 18-49 ranking for NBC, which has struggled to shake off its own three-year long ratings slump, comes with an asterisk, though. NBC benefited from a Nielsen rule change that allowed it to add viewers to last Monday's season premiere of "Heroes" from a Saturday replay of the show.

Starting this season, Nielsen agreed that viewers watching a repeat in the same week as the original broadcast could be counted in the ratings tally as long as the replay carries the same advertising content.

NBC enjoyed the added benefit of being able to factor out what otherwise would have been a low-rated hour of TV from its weekly ratings average.

The return of "Grey's Anatomy" ended up as the week's highest-rated single show in the 18-49 demographic. Going head to head with ABC's hit medical drama, the CBS powerhouse cop series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" scored the week's biggest total audience with its season premiere.

FEW NEW SHOWS BREAK THROUGH

ABC had the most watched new series so far this season with the debut of its "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off, "Private Practice," but NBC's sci-fi action remake, "Bionic Woman," was No. 1 in the 18-49 race among new shows.

Those two shows, and ABC's male ensemble drama "Big Shots," were the only new programs to crack Nielsen's top 20 by either measure during the first week.

After two years of solid growth, the Walt Disney Co-owned ABC stumbled in the ratings last season, due in part to the loss of its highly watched "Monday Night Football" franchise, which moved to sister sports network ESPN.

General Electric Co-controlled NBC, has languished in the Nielsens since longtime comedy favorites "Friends" and "Frasier" ended their runs in 2004.

All four major networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox -- posted year-to-year ratings declines for the first week of the 2007-08 season, which broadcast executives attribute to rapidly changing viewing habits.

In particular, industry experts point to the growing use of digital video recorders (DVRs) such as TiVo, which let viewers easily save their favorite shows and watch them at their leisure.

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Source: Reuters

[Westsidelife]

CSC wins part of $4B contract

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 4, 2007

Computer Sciences Corp. is one of 16 firms that will be able to bid on information technology contracts being offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $4 billion.

The contract has a one-year base period and nine one-year options. CSC said in a statement that its portion of the contract, which will be derived from bidding and winning competitive delivery orders, could be worth up to $200 million.

CSC will provide software development and maintenance, and systems integration for any contracts won under the deal.

El Segundo's CSC (NYSE: CSC) is a global information technology company.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Northrop wins piece of $50B IT deal

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 4, 2007

Northrop Grumman Corp. is one of 29 winners of a portion of a federal information technology contract worth up to $50 billion.

Northrop's exact stake in the deal was not disclosed.

The award is part of the Alliant indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract aimed at improving service and increasing efficiency through an upgrade of the government's IT infrastructure. The contract has a five-year base period and a five-year option.

Northrop's team will provide computer network support, software engineering and other computer services to civilian agencies and the Department of Defense.

Los Angeles' Northrop (NYSE: NOC) is a $30 billion global defense and technology company.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

New IT security center could boost Northrop's job base in Maryland

By Scott Dance, Baltimore Business Journal
Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 5, 2007

Northrop Grumman Corp. will open a new 34,000-square-foot facility in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to expand its team devoted to creating secure information technology systems for government and businesses.

The company (NYSE: NOC) will mark the project's completion with an Oct. 8 ceremony and tour at the new office, called the Information Assurance Innovation Center, at 8666 Veterans Highway in Millersville.

Northrop Grumman has more than 11,000 employees in Maryland and Jerry Agee, corporate vice president of the company's mission systems sector, said the expansion could mean that number will grow.

"Northrop Grumman has been expanding its information assurance business, and this new facility positions us for even greater growth in the state of Maryland," Agee said in a statement.

The information assurance team researches and develops information technology and information assurance systems, focusing on confidentiality, security and integrity of data.

Los Angeles-based Northrop is a $30 billion defense contractor with 120,000 employees nationwide.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Tetra Tech wins pair of government contracts

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 8, 2007

Tetra Tech Inc. won two contracts Monday, one with the Federal Aviation Administration and one with the U.S. Navy.

U.S. Navy
The $100 million contract awarded by the Navy will have Tetra Tech provide environmental remediation services at U.S. Navy and Marine Corps installations primarily in the southwestern United States.

The contract has a one year base period with four one-year options.

The contract was given to Tetra Tech's EC operating unit.

FAA
The five-year, $52 million deal with the FAA's Office of Security and Hazardous Materials will have Tetra Tech provide information technology services, including standard desktop and helpdesk services, application development and various security services.

The contract was given to Tetra Tech's Advanced Management Technology Inc. unit.

Pasadena's Tetra Tech (NASDAQ: TTEK) is a provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

CompuMed Wins Corrections Contract

By ALLEN P. ROBERTS Jr.
October 8, 2007

CompuMed Inc. said Monday that it was awarded a contract by the California Department of Corrections to provide remote electrocardiogram services for the state’s correctional facilities.

The Los Angeles [company], one of the largest operators of remote-monitoring technology, will link the correctional facilities with its network of cardiologists to evaluate and monitor patients. CompuMed said its method is more cost-effective than on-site monitoring.

“The quality of care provided by correctional facilities is a burning issue for healthcare providers,” said CompuMed CEO Maurizio Vecchione. “CompuMed is in a position to help correctional facilities provide the highest standard of care when it comes to cardiology services, while at the same time reducing their liability significantly.”

A key advantage of the system includes a feature that automatically sends ECG results to a trained cardiologist for review when the results are abnormal, the company said. The value of the contract was undisclosed.

Shjares in CompuMed were up 10 percent, or 5 cents, to 55 cents in afternoon trading Monday.

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Source: Los Angeles Business Journal

[Westsidelife]

Northrop gets contract worth more than $40M

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 9, 2007

Northrop Grumman Corp. was awarded a five-year, follow-on contract worth more than $40 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to support logistics data and information technology applications.

Under the contract, Northrop will manage development, operations and maintenance support, and enhancements to the Business Partner Network Support Environment, a Web-enabled logistics application that hosts multiple databases from the Defense Department and federal government.

The suite of databases includes the Central Contractor Registration, which collects, validates, stores and disseminates data from acquisitions by federal agencies.

Northrop Grumman's teammates on this contract include ePlus, Science Applications International Corp., and Recovery Point Systems. Work on the contract will be conducted in Battle Creek, Mich.

Los Angeles' Northrop (NYSE: NOC) is a defense and technology company.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

CSC discloses contracts worth $1.1B

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 9, 2007

Computer Sciences Corp.'s North American Public Sector unit announced Tuesday it has signed 123 previously unannounced contracts and subcontracts during the second quarter.

The contracts have a total estimated top-end value of approximately $1.1 billion. The timeframes range from one month to seven years.

Defense contracts accounted for 83 awards worth up to $900 million. Civil agencies accounted for the other 40 awards worth up to $200 million.

El Segundo-based CSC (NYSE: CSC) will be performing a wide array of information technology services under the contracts, including analysis, systems integration, consulting, engineering, maintenance and logistics support.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Jacobs to support Naval Research Laboratory

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 9, 2007

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has been awarded a contract from the Naval Research Laboratory for ocean dynamics and prediction oceanography research.

Financial terms of the five-year deal were not disclosed.

The research efforts from Jacobs are aimed at enhancing the Navy's capabilities for real-time ocean monitoring, nowcasting, and forecasting.

The work will be performed at the Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Pasadena-based Jacobs (NYSE: JEC) provides technical, professional, and construction services.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Northrop gets $47M Navy contract

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 10, 2007

Northrop Grumman Corp. has been awarded a follow-on information technology contract worth up to $47 million from the U.S. Navy in support of the Navy's information-sharing system with law enforcement agencies.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service Law Enforcement Information Exchange system facilitates the sharing of data for local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies. Under the terms, Northrop will launch, operate and maintain the system for both new and existing users of the system.

The contract has one base year and four one-year options, with work taking place out of Northrop's IT sector in Reston, Va. In 2004, Northrop was awarded the first contract to develop the system for agencies in the states of Washington and Virginia. Since then, the system is used by agencies in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Texas, and the Washington, D.C. region.

North Carolina and Southern California will be using the system by year's end.

Los Angeles' Northrop (NYSE: NOC) is a global defense and technology company.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

NBC Plans Studio Relocation

By HOWARD FINE and DANIEL MILLER
Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
October 10, 2007

NBC is set to announce Thursday that it will be relocating its longtime Burbank studios to the NBC/Universal property in Universal City by 2011, sources said late Wednesday.

The L.A. Mayor’s office acknowledged the move but declined to provide any further details until a news conference scheduled for Thursday. Burbank and NBC officials could not be reached for comment.

Burbank has been home to NBC Studios since 1962; the studios achieved national notoriety with frequent references by former “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson. Since General Electric Co. acquired NBC in 1985, some of the operations once housed at the studios have been transferred to the NBC/Universal property in Universal City.

NBC/Universal last winter announced a $3 billion expansion of its Universal City property, including the construction of 2,900 apartments, lofts and condominiums; additional office space; and an upgrade of its studio and entertainment facilities. The proposal is currently working its way through the city entitlement process.

If General Electric/NBC Universal were to dispose of the Burbank studios it would likely have a variety of takers. The Burbank Media District in which the property is located is a red-hot office submarket.

NBC Studios could opt to lease out the space. As of the third quarter, the vacancy rate for Class A space in Burbank was 3.4 percent, according to Grubb & Ellis Co. That’s down from 4.2 percent a year ago. What’s more, real estate industry experts said that the vacancy rate in the media district is 3 percent.

NBC Studios also could also be sold – and likely for a pretty penny. There have been significant studio sales this year that could serve as benchmarks for the possible sale of the television studio. Private equity firm Carlyle Group paid $150 million for Manhattan Beach Studios in a deal that closed in mid-June. In July the Business Journal reported that local real estate firm Hudson Capital LLC had agreed to pay about $205 million for Sunset Gower Studios.

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Source: Los Angeles Business Journal

[Westsidelife]

Northrop gets $220M NSA contract

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 15, 2007

Northrop Grumman Corp. on Monday was awarded an information technology contract from the National Security Agency to develop an advanced information management and data storage system.

The 51-month contract is a cost-plus-award-fee contract worth up to $220 million.

The data system is part of an effort to modernize the nation's electronic intelligence capabilities. The system will provide uniform access to electronic intelligence data collected across the various agencies within the Defense Department.

Northrop (NYSE: NOC) is a $30 billion defense and technology company based in Los Angeles.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Houston law firm to open L.A. office

By Ford Gunter, Houston Business Journal
Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 16, 2007

Houston's Lanier Law Firm is expanding to the West Coast.

The 28-attorney firm, which opened an office in Manhattan in 2005, said its third office will be in Los Angeles.

Founder Mark Lanier will head the new office, with Shepard Hoffman serving as of counsel and Julie Drenner joining the firm as an associate.

"We felt the nationwide nature of our practice made it important to establish a permanent California presence," Lanier said.

The Los Angeles office will concentrate on asbestos exposure, commercial litigation, intellectual property, pharmaceutical liability, maritime law and product liability.

Lanier has gathered almost $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including a $253.5 million decision in favor of the family of an Angleton marathon runner who died after taking the drug Vioxx for less than a year.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Jacobs gets deal from USGS

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 16, 2007

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. was awarded a blanket purchasing agreement from the U.S. Geological Survey worth up to $39 million on Tuesday.

Under terms of the deal, Jacobs will provide scientific and technological services to the Florida Integrated Science Center sites throughout the state of Florida, including six major offices and other field stations. The areas of support will include geology, hydrology, biology, chemistry, and oceanography.

The purchasing agreement has a one base year with four additional one-year options.

Pasadena's Jacobs (NYSE: JEC) provides technical, professional, and construction services globally. The company has 48,000 employees worldwide.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Allergan completes Esprit buy

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 17, 2007

On Wednesday, Allergan Inc. closed on its $370 million purchase of Esprit Pharma Holding Company Inc.

East Brunswick, N.J.-based Esprit is a pharmaceutical company with expertise in the genitourinary market and currently markets its SANCTURA product for the treatment of overactive bladder. It recently got approval for SANCTURA XR, a once-daily formulation of the drug, according to a release, and Allergan expects to launch the drug in the first quarter of 2008.

The deal was first announced on September 19.

Allergan expects Esprit to contribute revenue of between $6 million and $12 million in the fourth quarter, and expects the transaction to be dilutive in 2007 in a range of 4 cents to 6 cents a share.

Irvine-based Allergan (NYSE: AGN) discovers, develops and commercializes products in the ophthalmology, neurosciences, medical dermatology, medical aesthetics, obesity intervention and other specialty markets.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Wescom, Great American Merge

By ALLEN P. ROBERTS Jr.
October 17, 2007

Wescom Credit Union said Wednesday that San Diego-based Great American Credit Union will merge into it.

The move will nearly double Wescom’s presence in the San Diego region.

As part of the agreement, Wescom of Pasadena said it will maintain and operate all four Great American branches in the San Diego area and will offer employment to all existing Great American employees.

The merger is expected to be completed by Dec. 1 if it is approved by Great American’s members.

Wescom operates more than 50 branches in the Southern California region.

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Source: Los Angeles Business Journal

[Westsidelife]

Skechers to Build Huge Distribution Center

By ALLEN P. ROBERTS Jr.
October 17, 2007

Skechers USA Inc. said Wednesday that it is planning to build a 1.8-million-square-foot distribution center in Ontario.

The Manhattan Beach-based shoe retailer said the new center, which is estimated to be the largest facility in the country to have a single occupant, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2009 and will centralize its North American distribution operations.

The facility has five buildings and is more than a half-mile long and will act as the hub for the company’s goods, which are predominantly made in China and shipped to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The cost of construction was not released but industry analysts put the cost well above $100 million.

Shares in Skechers were up 1 percent, or 20 cents, to $20.72 in afternoon trading Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Source: Los Angeles Businesss Journal

[Westsidelife]

Salem buys Miami radio station

By South Florida Business Journal
Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 19, 2007

Radio One said it has agreed to sell WTPS-AM in Miami to Salem Communications Corp. for about $12.25 million.

Salem began operating the station immediately under a local marketing agreement. Radio One expects the transaction to close during the fourth quarter of 2007.

WTPS was a talk-radio station focusing on African-American and urban listeners. The station's new call letters on 1080 will be WMCU and it will now feature Christian programming.

Camarillo-based Salem Communications (NASDAQ: SALM) is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider and magazine book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

[Westsidelife]

Northrop, Hittite sign supplier deal

By Mass High Tech
Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
October 19, 2007

Hittite Microwave Corp. has entered into an agreement to license a line of integrated circuit technology from aerospace and defense contractor Northrop Grumman.

Hittite, a Chelmsford, Mass.-based maker of integrated circuits, modules and subsystems for the radio-frequency microwave market, reports it will license the Velocium line of monolithic microwave integrated circuit products and related intellectual property from Northrop's space technology sector.

Hittite officials said the deal expands its high-frequency product line and gives a boost to the company's Hittite's supply chain.

In addition, Hittite plans to use Northrop as a foundry supplier for gallium arsenide wafers used in the licensed products, and will also have preferred access to Northrop's advanced semiconductor process technology for new Hittite products.

Hittite (NASDAQ: HITT) reported a 2006 profit of $42.7 million on revenue of $130 million.

Los Angeles-based Northrop (NYSE: NOC) is a defense and technology company.

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Source: Los Angeles Business from bizjournals