GIANNULLLI SELLS GOLFWEAR LABEL
Beverly Hills-based sportswear brand G/Fore has been acquired by Peter Millar, a luxury apparel brand in Raleigh, N.C., on undisclosed terms. The golf-inspired brand was started by veteran fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli in 2011. The company initially made golf gloves and expanded to include golf shoes, accessories and apparel for men and women, the company said. “I love the game of golf, and as a designer it was obvious that the timing was perfect for a lifestyle brand that was hipper, younger and more outspoken than anything on the market,” Giannulli said in a statement. The two companies previously collaborated on a golf shoe and the decision for the acquisition was the result of ongoing interactions. Peter Millar was founded in 2001 as a sportswear company with products sold in retailers such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Its parent company is Richemont Co., a Swiss luxury goods group.
—Shwanika Narayan
LEGISLATORS AGAINST NATURAL GAS HALT
A pair of state legislators introduced a measure on Jan. 17 to ban any moratoriums on new natural gas hookups. The bill, introduced by state Assembly members Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles, and Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park, came in response to the state Public Utilities Commission’s proposal last month to implement a three-month moratorium on new business and industrial gas connections by Southern California Gas Co. Santiago and Rubio said implementing a moratorium would have major adverse economic impacts. The PUC proposed the moratorium after receiving reports that reduced capacity at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field could lead to shortages during the peak winter months for gas usage. The Los Angeles County Business Federation, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Gas Co. opposed the moratorium, saying it would needlessly delay gas connections for at least 700 businesses. PUC pulled the moratorium before the Jan.11 vote, postponing it until at least Feb. 8.
—Howard Fine
TIMES PUBLISHER UNDER REVIEW AFTER NPR STORY
The parent company of the L.A. Times has the publisher and chief executive of the daily newspaper under review in the wake of a National Public Radio report that he was a defendant in two sexual harassment lawsuits before taking his current position. “This week, we became aware of allegations that Ross Levinsohn acted inappropriately,” said a statement issued on Jan. 18 by Chicago-based tronc Inc. “We are immediately launching an investigation so that we have a better understanding of what’s occurred. At tronc, we expect all employees to act in a way that supports a culture of diversity and inclusion. We will take appropriate action to address any behavior that falls short of these expectations.” The NPR report came a day before the National Labor Relations Board is expected to reveal the results of a vote to unionize Los Angeles Times’ newsroom staff.
—Diane Haithman
FOR THE RECORD: L.A. MAKES AMAZON HQ2 CUT
Los Angeles was named by Amazon Inc. as one of the 20 finalist cities for the Seattle e-commerce giant’s second headquarters. Amazon announced last year that it was looking to open a second headquarters, which is expected to employ about 50,000 workers. L.A. was the only West Coast city on the short list, which was announced on Jan. 18. The other cities to make the cut were: New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Indianapolis, Miami, Newark, N.J., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Nashville, Tenn., Austin, Texas, Raleigh, N.C., Columbus, Ohio, Montgomery County, Md., Northern Virginia and one Canadian location: Toronto.
—Alison A. Nieder
