Thursday, June 14, 2012


Demand Media Shuffles CFO
Santa Monica-based online publisher Demand Media reported Thursday that it is shuffling its CFO, and is promoting its Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer Mel Tang to the CFO position. Current CFO Charles Hilliard becomes a Special Advisor to Demand Media's board of directors. Demand Media did not say why it made the change, however, it said it is reaffirming its financial guidance for the second quarter ending June 30, 2012 and full year ending December 31, 2012 with the move. Hilliard (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)

Politics, Technology Collide Over LAX Wi-Fi Deal
Another collision between the long history of political deals in Los Angeles, and the city's growing high tech industry surfaced this week, after the Los Angeles City Council decided to halt a contract to provide free Wi-Fi in LAX to a Florida firm, in an uncompetitive process. The LA City Council, in a 13-0 vote, decided this week to stop the Board of Airport Commissioners from awarding a contract to Advanced Wireless Group, after protests by Councilman Joe Buscaino and Dennis Zine. The entire (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)

The Collective Buys Metacafe
Hollywood management agency The Collective has acquired online video sharing site Metacafe, according to reports this morning from AllthingsD. The report did not uncover any financial details of the deal, but said The Collective is acquiring Metacafe for its infrastructure and sales team. The Collective is the firm that represents Annoying Orange, Fred and IJustine, FreddieW, and other YouTube stars. The Collective says it is creating a "powerhouse production house for the online age" via its Co (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)

GraphEffect Gets $12M
Santa Monica-based GraphEffect, the provider of social marketing software headed by James Borow and co-founded by Clark Landry, announced this morning that it has raised $12M in a new financing round. The round was led by Rincon Venture Partners. The company said that Jim Andelman of Rincon joins the company's board with the funding. GraphEffect's other investors are Lerer Ventures, Thrive Capital, Founder Collective, Rincon Venture Partners, CrossCut Ventures, Baroda Ventures, DFJ Frontier and (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012 (More)(Full story)

Quest Software Gets $2.15 Billion Offer For Firm
Aliso Viejo-based Quest Software, the developer of IT management software, reported this morning that it has received a proposal from a strategic bidder to acquire all of the firm's outstanding shares for $25.50 per share in cash. The new offer, from the un-named strategic acquirer, trumps an earlier offer of $23.00 per share in cash announced by private equity firm Insight Venture Partners in March. Last month, it was rumored that Dell might be considering an offer for Quest, but it's unclear w (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)

Report: Yammer Being Acquired By Microsoft
Yammer, the business focused micromessaging service which started as an offspring of Los Angeles-based family tree and genealogy site Geni, is reportedly in the last legs of a deal to be acquired by Microsoft for more than $1 billion. According to Bloomberg and other sources, the deal is expected to be announced as early as Friday. Rumors of Yammer being in acquisition talks came, initially, via conversations overheard in San Francisco in a number of locations as Yammer employees apparently talk (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)

RealD Signs Another Chinese Theater Chain
Los Angeles-based RealD, which developer 3D projection technology for the movie theater industry, has signed its fourth, Chinese exhibitor for its technology, the firm reported this morning. THe firm said that SMI Corporation Limited, a Chinese entertainment and media company operating the Stellar International Cineplex brand, will equip 100 screens across its network with RealD's technology. Financial impact of the win was not announced. The announcement is the fourth Chinese win announced in t (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)

CitizenHawk Launches Tool To Find Logo, Image Violations
Aliso Viejo-based CitizenHawk, the venture backed developer of online brand protection services, said today that it has launched a tool to help companies find infringement of a company's logos and other trademarked images. The firm, which is headed by David Duckwitz, said its new HawkImages tool compares images on the Internet with a company's approved images, allowing customers to identify and determine how they'd like to respond to those violations. The company said its tool even is able to de (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)

Life Technologies Sets Up Shop In Singapore
Carlsbad-based Life Technologies, the developer of molecular diagnostics and other tools for the life sciences industry, said today that it has set up shop in Singapore. The firm said it has opened a Global Instrument Center of Excellence in Singapore, which will design and manufacture products for the company, including next-generation sequencing and molecular diagnostic instruments. The firm said the new facility comes as a result of growth in the Asia Pacific region.
posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012(Full story)