First California nets $39 million in stock sale
Westlake Village-based First California Financial Group, parent of First California Bank, closed a public stock offering March 24 that netted it about $39 million. The bank, which has about $1.5 billion in assets and seven branches in the Tri-Counties, sold 16.56 million shares at $2.50 each for a total of about $41.4 million. Chief Executive Read More →
The Walking Co. to exit Ch. 11 in April
Santa Barbara-based shoe retailer The Walking Co. said March 22 that it could emerge from its $68.5 million Chapter 11 bankruptcy by the end of April. In December, the company took on mall landlords by filing to reorganize, citing untenable leases it signed during what company leaders called a “high water mark for retail space.” Read More →
First California to raise $36M
Westlake Village-based First California Financial Group, the parent of First California Bank, plans to close a $36 million stock offering by March 24. The banking company said March 19 it will sell 14.4 million shares for $2.50 each. After costs, First California will net $33 million, the bank said in a release. Earlier, First California Read More →
Santa Barbara developer Fess Parker dies at 85
Fess Parker, the face of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone to an entire generation of Americans and perhaps the best-known developer in Santa Barbara, died at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley on March 18. He was 85. A Texas native, the television frontiersman played Davy Crockett in the 1950s and Daniel Boone in Read More →
First California to sell 10M shares
Westlake Village-based First California Financial Group, parent of First California Bank, said March 17 it plans to sell 10 million shares to raise capital to fund potential acquisitions and new customers. A per-share price has not been set for the stock offering, which is being underwritten by investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. At First Read More →
SkyWest adds Oxnard to nixed flights
After raising fares in the face of declining passenger numbers, SkyWest is cancelling its flight from Oxnard to LAX starting in June. The 20-minute connection to one of the nation’s largest airports has been a mainstay for Ventura County business and government passengers looking to cut down time and hassle getting to Los Angeles. Without Read More →
SB city manager: General fund cuts inevitable
General fund cuts are inevitable as revenue declines are historic, Santa Barbara City Manager Jim Armstrong said March 16 at the annual State of the City address. The $140 million general fund has experienced a 20 percent decline in retail taxes, a 16 percent decline in hotel taxes and an even sharper decline in property Read More →
