REAL ESTATE

Premier, the Newport Beach home-building subsidiary of French builder Les Noveaux Constructeurs, said it has joined its French parent in the commercial building business with a new division devoted to business properties.

The company named Howard P. Hamlin, formerly of McMahon/Oliphant Properties in Santa Ana, as vice president in charge of the new division. The company said it is pursuing office, retail and industrial projects in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego County and the Inland Empire.

The French company is France’s fourth-largest residential and commercial builder with sales of $450 million expected this year. The U.S. subsidiary, opened in 1982, has built single-family houses and townhomes in Sunnymead, Ontario, Victorville and elsewhere.