& #8226; Safeway Inc.

said it expects next year’s earnings to be between $1.55 to $1.65 per share, up from the $1.25 per share it reported last year. Analysts, on average, anticipate 2006 earnings of $1.59.

The Pleasanton-based supermarket operator with stores throughout Southern California also said it plans to spend approximately $1.6 billion on capital expenditures in 2006 to complete 20 to 25 new stores and to remodel about 280 stores. Safeway said it will generate free cash flow of $400 million to $600 million and that its comparable-store sales will rise about 3 percent next year.

& #8226; Walt Disney Co.

named Alan Bergman as the president of its film division, Walt Disney Studios. In his new role, Bergman will oversee strategy and operations for all business units, including Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group, Disney Theatrical Productions and Buena Vista Television. Bergman previously served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for the studio, where he was the architect of the Miramax settlement and was responsible for designing the division’s new structure. He will report to Dick Cook, the studio’s chairman.

& #8226; Amp’d Mobile

and MTV Networks announced a strategic alliance to offer content from MTV’s brands on Amp’d’s 3G broadband wireless platform. Under the terms of the agreement, L.A.-based Amp’d will deliver to its subscribers video clips, ringtones, screensavers and wallpapers from MTV Networks’ owned cable channels, including Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, TV Land and Spike TV.

The companies will collaborate on original content, such as interviews, behind-the-scenes clips and other short-form video programming. MTV will also make its new digital music service, URGE, available to Amp’d subscribers.

& #8226; Northrop Grumman Corp.

said it is expanding its Houston operation to support NASA’s Johnson Space Center in developing the next generation of space exploration systems. The L.A.-based defense contractor, whose association with Houston began more than four decades ago during the Apollo program, said the expansion could bring 200 to 300 high-tech production, engineering and management jobs to the region, while offering opportunities for local businesses to become suppliers to a Northrop-led space exploration team. Northrop recently moved into a new headquarters near Johnson Space Center.