SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
WALNUT
New Branch: HSBC Bank USA, the U.S. division of London-based banking giant HSBC Holdings PLC, has opened a banking branch in Walnut. The new branch is at 515 N. Grand Ave
WESTSIDE
SANTA MONICA
Opened Wide: Dentist Dr. Nushin Shir has set up shop in Santa Monica at the Artistic Center for Dentistry. The center, at 1531 Sixth St., will offer general and cosmetic dental services.
Checked In: Santa Monica-based Murphy O’Brien Public Relations has been named the agency of record for Hilton Hotels Corp., a McLean, Va.-based hotel giant. Murphy O’Brien will guide the global communication strategy for the chain.
CENTURY CITY
Expanded Menu: Rogers Group, a Century City public relations and communications firm has expanded its client roster in its food and beverage practice. Rogers will now represent cinnamon bun maker Cinnabon Inc. and Dole Frozen Fruit, a division of Westlake Village-based Dole Food Co.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
Inside Job: Andaz West Hollywood, a Sunset Strip hotel, earned Contract Magazine’s Interior Award in the hotel category. New York-based architecture firm Janson Goldstein, Andaz’s designer, also was honored. Contract Magazine is a New York-based publication tracking the commercial design industry.
WEST LOS ANGELES
New Home: L.A. architect Richard M. Manion, who specializes in multimillion-dollar residences, has opened an office in West Los Angeles. Richard Manion Architecture Inc. is at 11150 W. Olympic Blvd.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
SYLMAR
Midwest Pickup: Anthony International, a Sylmar a maker of glass doors for refrigerators and freezers, has acquired Trausch Industries, an Audubon, Iowa, maker of exterior and interior surfaces for display cases. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
WOODLAND HILLS
Linked Up: ReachLocal Inc., a Woodland Hills-based online marketing company, has acquired SMB Live, a firm that monitors the online presence and reputation for small and medium-size businesses. The acquisition will allow ReachLocal to provide clients with automated monitoring of review sites, social media sites and blogs. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
CHATSWORTH
Group Deal: Iris International Inc., a Chatsworth urinalysis systems maker, has signed a deal to provide services and supplies to HealthTrust Purchasing Group LP, a Brentwood, Tenn.-based group purchasing business. The new sales channel raises Iris’ access to more than 1,400 care hospitals and nonacute care facilities across the United States.
SOUTH BAY
TORRANCE
Hooked Up: The law firms of Petillon Hiraide & Loomis LLP and Zagzebski Brothers LLP have combined to form Torrance-based firm Petillon Hiraide Loomis Zagzebski & Zagzebski LLP. The new firm will also operate a downtown L.A. office under the same name.
Hospitality Push: The Tourism Business Improvement District of Torrance has named its board, which includes 14 member hotels, a seat for the city of Torrance and a seat for the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce. Contributing 1 percent of their total room revenue to support the district, the 14 hotels are: Best Western Avita Suites Torrance, Courtyard by Marriott Torrance-Palos Verdes, Courtyard by Marriott Torrance-South Bay, Days Inn Torrance-Redondo Beach, Doubletree Torrance-South Bay, Extended Stay America Los Angeles-Torrance, Homestead Studio Suites Torrance-Redondo Beach, Miyako Hybrid Hotel, Ramada Inn Torrance, Residence Inn by Marriott, Staybridge Suites Torrance-Redondo Beach, Torrance Marriott South Bay, Torrance Plaza Hotel and Torrance Travelodge.
CENTRAL AREA
DOWNTOWN L.A.
Investment: Actis Capital LLP, a London-based equity investor, has paid $50 million for a minority stake in downtown L.A.-based Integreon. Integreon provides outsourced research, legal and business services.
Lined Up: Aecom Technology Corp., a downtown L.A. technical and management support services company, has won a design-services contract from MTR Corp. Ltd., owner-operator of the Hong Kong metro system. Aecom’s work under the contract for the Hong Kong Shatin to Central Link rail project will include designs for a new transit station. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
National Salute: The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Chamber of Commerce has named downtown L.A. digital marketing firm Sensis Agency a Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winner. Sensis was one of 75 national honorees, and the only L.A. County winner out of seven from California. The chamber’s award recognizes businesses for strategies, employee development and customer service.
