Biz News: Irvine-based nuclear waste cleanup company acquired by French firm
Kurion, an Irvine-based nuclear waste cleanup and facility decommissioning company founded in 2008, was recently acquired by Veolia, a large French water and waste company, for $350 million.
Kurion’s recent work includes stabilizing Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant after a 2011 earthquake and tsunami damaged several reactors.
Veolia’s acquisition is subject to government approval.
“Bringing Kurion and its employees into Veolia is going to enable us to develop a world-class integrated offer in nuclear facility cleanup and treatment of low-level radioactive waste around the world,” Antoine Frérot, chairman and chief executive of Veolia, said in a statement. “By having all the expertise and solutions that are indispensable for the treatment of this type of waste, our company is confirming that it is what it has always been: a pioneer in the treatment and recovery of waste and resources.”
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LinkedIn to buy Costa Mesa tech company
Online professional networking platform LinkedIn plans to acquire Costa Mesa-based search technology company Connectifier, according to the Orange County Business Journal. Terms were not disclosed.
The news was announced by Mountain View-based LinkedIn in its earnings statement, the journal reported Thursday.
Connectifier was founded in 2012 to help recruiters connect with potential hires. The company’s deal with LinkedIn will bring its technology and expertise to more customers than it could reach on its own, Connectifier co-founder and Chief Executive John Jersin said.
Connectifier’s research and development team will move to the Bay Area, Jersin said.
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Pacific Club employs new app for live audio
The Pacific Club in Newport Beach is one of the nation’s first establishments to use hearTV, an Arizona-based company’s app that can stream live audio from TVs to smartphones.
“The great thing about hearTV is that it can be utilized in various settings. Not only is this an ideal solution for fitness centers, hotel lobbies, airports, restaurants and sports bars, but we had customers implement the product in waiting rooms, museums, churches and stadiums,” George Dennis, chief executive of hearTV, said in a statement.
The app is available on iPhone and Android.
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New Directions for Women reopens facility
New Directions for Women reopened its Founders House facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.
The house at 2607 Willo Lane — an unincorporated area near Eastside Costa Mesa — was originally built in 1984. Renovations include a “spiritual sun room,” an art sanctuary with a butterfly garden and expanded dining space.
It houses 48 people and provides detox, residential rehab, intensive sober living and outpatient services, according to a news release.
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Massachusetts tech company acquires Irvine firm
BrainSell, a Massachusetts-based technology consulting company, has acquired Sienna Solutions, an Irvine-based sales, marketing and customer support firm founded in 1996.
“BrainSell’s acquisition insures that our [client base] will continue to improve their business through better acquisition and analysis of their business data,” Peter DeBellis, Sienna’s chief executive, said in a statement.
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New tract to open in Irvine’s Portola Springs Village
Legado, a new Brookfield Residential neighborhood in Irvine’s Portola Springs, will be unveiled at 10 a.m. Feb. 20.
The homes have three or four bedrooms and range from about 2,040 square feet to 2,382 square feet. They feature Spanish-, Santa Barbara- and Monterey-inspired architecture.
Prices are expected to start in the $800,000s.
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Sam Edelman shoe store opens at South Coast Plaza
Sam Edelman, a women’s shoe store, recently opened a 2,000-square-foot location in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza.
In addition to footwear, the store features accessories, handbags and more.
“South Coast Plaza is one of California’s top shopping destinations and the perfect home for our newest West Coast retail location,” Edelman, the chain’s founder, said in a statement.
The store is in Carousel Court, Suite 2000, near Sears.
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VFW recognizes Irvine hair salon’s donation
The Sport Clips haircutting shop at 6274 Irvine Blvd. in Irvine was recognized by Veterans of Foreign Wars for its $6,300 donation to Help A Hero, which provides scholarships to military veterans.
The store raised the most funds for the project in California.
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Pimco names executive to London-based role
Newport Beach-based Pacific Investment Management Co. announced that Craig Dawson has been appointed to oversee the firm’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
He replaces Bill Benz, who plans to retire this summer after 30 years with the company.
Dawson, who joined Pimco in 1999, previously headed its business in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy and product management for Europe. He will be moving to London for his new position.
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Bixby Land Co. buys two buildings near Seattle
Bixby Land Co., based in Newport Beach, recently purchased two new industrial buildings in the Seattle area for $12.4 million, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.
The buildings are a 34,435-square-foot facility in Auburn and a 63,768-square-foot building in Sumner. Both were previously owned by Panattoni Development Co., also based in Newport Beach.
The business journal reported that Bixby is making the Seattle area a “major focus” and is looking to buy more assets there.
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Insight Investments appoints new executive
Insight Investments LLC, based in Costa Mesa, has appointed Jennifer Kennedy as an executive who will work on the company’s vendor financing initiative, according to a news release.
She will be “driving new program relationships with technology manufacturers, systems integrators and managed service providers,” company officials said in the release.