Also. . .
* Growing companies seeking capital can get basic information and meet representatives from the financial community at an all-day conference Tuesday at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. AdVENTUREs in the Capital Marketplace is sponsored by the Valley Economic Development Center and features keynote speaker Sky Dalton, founder and chairman of EarthLink Network Inc., a Pasadena-based Internet service provider with nearly $50 million in annual revenue. Also speaking are Los Angeles Times small-business columnists Vicki Torres and Juan Hovey. Sessions will cover venture capital, direct public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and financing. The Los Angeles Times is among six event sponsors. Cost is $95 per person. Information: (818) 907-9977.
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* Boston West, operator of 87 Boston Market restaurants in Southern California, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it reorganizes under new management. Management of Santa Ana-based Boston West is being taken over by Anaheim-based CKE Restaurants Inc. from Boston Chicken Inc., which itself filed for Chapter 11 protection in October.
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* El Segundo-based Merisel Inc., a computer hardware and software distributor, reported third-quarter net income of $7.6 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, on sales of $1.14 billion, contrasted with a net loss of $9.1 million including charges, or 29 cents, on sales of $965.2 million a year ago.
