ANTELOPE VALLEY LANCASTER Simulations Plus Inc. launched its version 1.0 PKPlus software, which is used to analyze preclinical and clinical trial data. The Lancaster company provides software and consulting services for pharmaceutical research and spent over two years developing PKPlus, which has been a component of the company’s GastroPlus software system since 2000. PKPlus was redeveloped as a standalone product that incorporates relational database Microsoft SQL Server Express, generates automatic and custom reports as well as provides a full audit trail and validation for U.S. Food and Drug Administration submission. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BURBANK Warner Bros. Entertainment has named Gillian Zhao as executive vice president and managing director of Warner Bros. China. Zhao is the first-ever country manager for China for the Burbank entertainment company. In the newly created position, Zhao will oversee all of the Warner Bros. businesses in China, including theatrical and television distribution, home entertainment, consumer products and video games. She reports to Richard Fox, executive vice president of international. Prior to Warner Bros., Zhao was senior assistant to the president of Wanda Culture Group and chief executive of Wanda Pictures, China’s top privately owned film company. CANOGA PARK Destruction of the 46-acre Aerojet Rocketdyne plant in Canoga Park has begun with work expected to last up to a year. The demolition will make way for a 4,000-unit residential development with a budget of $3 billion. It will be owned by United Technologies Corp., the Hartford, Conn.-based defense contractor and former parent company of Aerojet Rocketdyne. The project will also feature retail, hotel and 1.2 million square feet of office space. It will have more than 10,000 parking places, according to the website of Boston Global Investors, the company hired by United Technologies to design the project. The 61-year-old aerospace plant produced rocket engines for NASA’s Gemini, Mercury and Apollo programs, as well as the Space Shuttle. CHATSWORTH Capstone Turbine Corp. has signed a new three-year agreement with BPC Engineering to distribute its microturbines in Russia and Belarus. The Chatsworth manufacturer requires in the agreement that BPC pay cash upfront prior to the delivery of the microturbines that are backlogged. BPC recently secured an order for a C1000 Signature Series microturbine that Capstone will ship in the second quarter to a commercial customer in Belarus. It is the fifth C1000 order secured by the distributor in the last four months. Capstone Chief Executive Darren Jamison said that the new distribution agreement demonstrates renewed growth in that region of the world. GLENDALE Comcast Corp. closed on its deal to acquire DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. DreamWorks, the Glendale animated film and television studio, was bought in a transaction valued at $3.8 billion. Shareholders received $41 in cash for each share of DreamWorks common stock. DreamWorks Animation now is part of Comcast’s Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, which includes Universal Pictures, Fandango and NBCUniversal Brand Development. The acquisition gives Universal a broader reach in the competitive children and family entertainment market. In addition to feature films, the studio also produces television series distributed on the Netflix streaming platform, live theatrical events and licenses its characters for use in overseas themed entertainment attractions. Joseph Stitick has been appointed president of the board of directors of the Downtown Glendale Association. In that role, Stitick is the lead decision maker in the betterment of the business improvement district along the Brand Boulevard corridor in downtown Glendale that the association oversees. “I’m very thrilled and excited to be the DGA’s new board president,” Stitick said in a prepared statement. “Our goal at the (association) is to provide the downtown district a destination where you want to live, work and play.” Stitick is president of brokerage Investment Property Services Inc. and asset management firm IPS Realty Management Inc. in Glendale. NORTH HOLLYWOOD A mixed-use retail and office center in North Hollywood has changed hands for $7 million, according to Calabasas commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap Inc. A limited liability entity known as Elijah 27 bought the four buildings on seven properties at 11305 to 11335 Magnolia Blvd. and 5215 Bakman Ave., a total of 20,100 square feet. Marcus & Millichap vice presidents of investments Martin Agnew and Jessica Kelley, and Ryan Rothstein-Serling, an associate, represented the buyer in the deal. Scott McCauley of Corporate Realty Services arranged the deal on behalf of the seller, a family trust, according to Marcus & Millichap. PANORAMA CITY Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that his office has convicted Gloria Dora Saucedo and her Panorama City business for illegally practicing law and providing paralegal services. In 2012, a client filed a complaint with the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs against Hermandad Mexicana Transnacional Inc., claiming to have paid thousands for services never rendered, which allegedly resulted in the denial of an immigration petition. Saucedo, 65, entered a plea of no contest to one count of unauthorized practice of law and was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. Hermandad also pled no contest to an infraction for performing unauthorized paralegal services, resulting in a $2,000 fine. SHERMAN OAKS Cherokee Inc. announced the launch of Cherokee-branded apparel and accessories at 80 stores in the Czech Republic. The Sherman Oaks company, which owns a portfolio of apparel brands, now has its products available at Albert supermarkets throughout the country. The launch follows the announcement in April of a licensing agreement with Ahold Czech Republic, parent company of the Albert chain. Products sold under the deal include men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, footwear and accessories. In the connection with the launch, Cherokee will conduct a marketing campaign with social and digital outreach, events and in-store promotions. WEST HILLS The former site of Orchard Supply Hardware in West Hills will become home to a new Chick-fil-A restaurant, according to an official from the West Hills Neighborhood Council. Construction of the Atlanta-based fast food outlet is already taking place at the northeast corner of Fallbook Ave. and Victory Blvd., said West Hills Neighborhood Council President Dan Brin. Chick-fil-A will join apparel retailer Stein Mart on the property, which has been vacant since Orchard Supply Hardware closed its West Hills store in 2013. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY VALENCIA Two Valencia industrial buildings occupied by Bayless Manufacturing Inc. have sold for about $12 million, according to L.A. commercial real estate brokerage CBRE Group Inc. Sierra Nevada Investment Group Inc., an industrial real estate investment firm in Los Angeles, bought 26100 and 26140 Avenue Hall at the corner of Avenue Stanford in the Valencia Industrial Center from Bayless, a metal fabricator and precision machine shop. The Class A, concrete-tilt-up structures total 80,200 square feet and were built in the late 1990s. Each have more than 84 parking spaces and sit adjacent to Interstate 5. As part of the sale-leaseback deal, Bayless signed a six-year lease with Sierra Nevada. SIMI VALLEY SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley Hospital has rolled out a toll-free phone number for the public to use for physician referrals and to learn about hospital services. The number at (866) 987-0120 will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a live operator with access to a database maintained by the hospital’s marketing department. In addition to physician referrals, the public can call the number to sign up for classes and events, pay for classes and learn more about support groups. Hospital Chief Executive Jennifer Swenson said the service helps people find what they need in a personalized way. – Compiled by Stephanie Henkel