WESTSIDE
WEST LOS ANGELES
Wealth Management: B. Riley Financial Inc., a West L.A. brokerage and investment bank, has acquired MK Capital Advisors, a New York financial advisory firm that caters to ultra-high-net-worth clients. It’s B. Riley’s first foray into the wealth-management business. As part of the acquisition, MK will become a wholly owned subsidiary of B. Riley. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
SANTA MONICA
Seed Funding: HelloTech has raised $2.5 million in seed funding to create an on-demand network of IT technicians to help consumers with their electronics problems. The Amplify LA-incubated startup plans to launch its home services, which include troubleshooting, installation and repairs, in Los Angeles this spring. Investors include Accel, Amplify, Upfront Ventures, Crosscut Ventures and angels.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
ENCINO
New Handle: USamp, an Encino online survey firm, has changed its corporate name and brand to Instantly Inc. The privately owned company has also launched a new website, Instant.ly
SHERMAN OAKS
Freelance Pickup: Ebyline Inc., a Sherman Oaks-based online marketplace for freelance writers, journalists and illustrators, has been acquired for an initial price of $1.2 million by Izea Inc., an influencer marketing firm in Orlando, Fla. That number could rise to more than $20 million by 2017 should Ebyline hit annual revenue targets, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Izea shares trade on the OTC market.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD
Medical Move: IPC Healthcare Inc., a North Hollywood company that provides doctors to hospitals and nursing homes, has acquired selected assets of Hospitalists Now Inc., a doctors group in Jacksonville, Fla. IPC will take over HNI’s providers in Jacksonville, but HNI will continue to operate its hospitalist programs outside of the Jacksonville market. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
MID-CITIES
SANTA FE SPRINGS
Industrial Acquisition: West L.A.’s Rexford Industrial Realty Inc. has acquired a Santa Fe Springs industrial property for $12.2 million from Laro Properties of Encino. The 101,800-square-foot Imperial Distribution Center, at 12907 Imperial Highway, was built in 1997 and is fully leased to a single tenant,
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
IRWINDALE
Business Friendly: San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, an Irwindale non-profit supporting businesses across the region, has launched an economic development website, SGVBusiness.com, aimed at companies considering relocating to or expanding in the valley. The new website highlights key growth industries and major local companies, the region’s colleges and universities, and provides basic demographic and economic data.
TRI-CITIES
BURBANK
In Flow: Ryan Herco Flow Solutions, a Burbank maker of fluid-handling and filtration products used in various sectors, has acquired GFI Stainless, a Modesto distributor of stainless steel and special alloy fluid-handling products. Ryan Herco last closed an acquisition in July with the purchase of Tampa, Fla.’s Barnes Industrial Plastic Piping. Financial terms of the GFI deal were not disclosed. forklift company Toyota-Lift, through 2019.
