Friday, July 16, 2010RealD Closes Up 22 Percent Despite Market DropThe stock of Los Angeles-based RealD, the provider of 3D movie projection technology, was up in its first day of trading on Friday, despite a big drop in the overall markets. RealD closed at $19.51, up 22 percent from its open price of $16.00. The firm is trading as RLD on the New York Stock Exchange. RealD's stock traded as high as $21.00, despite a drop of more than two percent in the major indexes Friday. RealD had initially forecast an IPO at between $13.00 and $15.00 per share.
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
eEye Shifts HQ To PhoenixIrvine-based eEye, a provider of Internet security software and services, said this week that it has shifted its headquarters to Phoenix, Arizona, along with the hiring of a new executive team. According to eEye, it has opened a new "key location" in Phoenix, where it plans to triple its current staff. The shift comes as the firm has pulled in a number of former executives of Arizona-based NetPro Computing, which was acquired by Quest Software a few years ago. eEye is now headed by Kevin Hickey, (More info...)
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
RealD Surges In DebutLos Angeles-based RealD, the developer of 3D movie projection technology, surged in trading this morning on the NYSE after its IPO. In morning trading, the firm's stock was trading at around $19.70 per share, after surging as much as 31 percent--as high as $21.00 per share--on open. RealD debuted at $16.00, selling 12.5 million shares of its stock.
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
SoCal Venture Deals Up In Q2
Investments by venture capitalists in Southern California were up, both in terms of deals and dollars in Q2, according to the latest numbers from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). According to the latest MoneyTree report from the two, using data provided by Thomson Reuters, Southern California saw $857.3M in 91 investments, up significantly from the $451.8M and 69 deals for Q2 of last year. Quarter-to-quarter growth was also good, going from $627.4M an (More info...)
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
And Then There Were Three: RealD Hits Markets TodayWith the IPO of Los Angeles-based RealD, which starts trading this morning on the NYSE as RLD, Southern California now has three successful IPOs on record. RealD said last night that it had priced its IPO at $16.00, and is selling 12.5M shares of its common stock. RealD joins Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal and Carlsbad-based MaxLinear among the list of local firms with a successful IPO this year.
Still on tap for an IPO are Pasadena-based Green Dot, Pasadena-based Genmark Diagnostics, Westla (More info...)
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
Interview with Quinn Curtis, BrightCloudOne of the questions we get most from entrepreneurs is how companies reach an exit event, and the thinking that goes into acquisitions. Last week, San Diego-based provider of web content classification and security services developer BrightCloud was acquired by Webroot, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to talk to founder Quinn Curtis about how the acquisition of his firm came about. Quinn is now VP of Hosted Security Services at Webroot (www.webroot.com).
Quinn, thanks for the t (More info...)
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
Leads360 Partners With SEMCATLos Angeles-based Leads360, a developer of sales lead management software, said earlier this week that it has integrated its products with SEMCAT, a provider of quoting products for the insurance industry. The firm said the integration allows independent insurance agencts to both manage leads and retrieve quotes from insurance carriers. Leads360 develops web-based lead management software used to streamline sales operations and sales teams; the firm said it currently has more than 400 insurance (More info...)
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
NEXUS Biosystems Buys Swiss FirmPoway-based NEXUS Biosystems, a developer of automated sample management systems for the biopharmaceuticals industry, said Thursday that it has signed an agreement to acquire REMP AG, a Swiss-based firm which provides sample management systems and related products. REMP AG is a subsidiary of Tecan Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. REMP AG is based in Oderdiessbach, Switzerland. NEXUS said it was supported in the acquisition by its majority investor, private equity firm Teleg (More info...)
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
Amgen Names New CFOThousand Oaks-based biotech giant Amgen announced this morning that it has appointed Jonathan M. Peacock as Chief Financial Officer. Peacock replaces Michael A. Kelly, who has been acting CFO since May. According to Amgen, Peacock joins from Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG, where he was CFO and Administrative Officer since 2005, and also has served at McKinsey and COmpany and Price Waterhouse. Peacock reports to CEO and Chairman Kevin W. Sharer.
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010(Full story)
Illumina Names VPSan Diego-based Illumina announced this morning that it has appointed Melina Cimler as Vp Quality and Regulatory Affairs. Cimler joins the firm from PandiaDx Consulting, and has also served at Beckman Coulter, Abbot Molecular, and Gen-Probe. The firm said that Cimler will report to Christian Henry, the firm's SVP, CFO, and General Manager of Life Sciences. Illumina is a developer of genetic analysis and related equipment and tools.
posted on Friday, July 16, 2010 (More)(Full story)