WESTSIDE
SANTA MONICA
Tech Funding: Eventup, a Santa Monica-based online marketplace that allows people planning events to rent venues such as art galleries or private homes, has raised $1.8 million in a seed funding round. Investors include Lightbank, a Chicago-based investment fund set up by Groupon co-founders Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell. Eventup is one of the first businesses launched by Science Inc., a hybrid incubator in Santa Monica founded by former Myspace Chief Executive Mike Jones.
CENTURY CITY
PR Pickup: Enso Communications, a Century City-based public relations and brand marketing?firm, has been acquired by MWW Group, an East Rutherford, N.J., PR firm. Enso founding partner JP Schuerman will join MWW as executive vice president and general manager of MWW’s downtown L.A. office.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
WESTLAKE VILLAGE
Taking Off: Row 44 Inc., a Westlake Village provider of in-flight Wi-Fi service and broadband entertainment to commercial airlines, has added Icelandair to the list of airlines using its equipment. Row 44 supplies its satellite-based broadband services aboard 250 aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle. In May; the company announced it would serve Transaero Airlines, a private Russian carrier based in Moscow.
NORTHRIDGE
Apartments Purchased: Granada JD LLC, a private San Diego investor, has purchased a 50-unit Northridge apartment property for $11.3 million from Merridy-Zelzah Street Properties Ltd. The Varsity Apartments complex, at 10020 Zelzah Ave., consists of 44 two-bedroom and six one-bedroom units.
CENTRAL AREA
HOLLYWOOD
Checking Out: CIM Group, a Hollywood-based real estate services company, has sold the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel to Loews Hotels, a subsidiary of New York’s Loews Corp. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but published reports estimate the transaction at about $165 million. Loews is planning a $26 million renovation for the hotel, which is next to the Hollywood & Highland Center.
NORTH COUNTY
VALENCIA
New Unit: Valencia’s Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital has opened its neonatal intensive care unit. The new state-of-the-art, 11-bed unit offers special services for newborns and is supported by a specialized team of experts that include doctors, nurses, respiratory care specialists, nutritionists, pharmacists, and physical and occupational therapists.
TRI-CITIES
PASADENA
Education Grant: OneWest Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Pasadena-based OneWest Bank, has issued a $750,000 grant to support local organizations working to improve educational efforts at low-performing schools in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Organizations receiving funding were Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, Mind Research Institute and City Year Los Angeles.
SOUTH BAY
EL SEGUNDO
Credit Facility: Dedicated Media Inc., an El Segundo digital marketing and advertising agency, has secured a $5 million credit facility with Wells Fargo Co.’s technology and venture banking group. The credit facility will be used to support working capital and fund expansion as the company continues to grow market share.
