BRIEFCASE GENESIS SELLS '90S OFFICE BUILDING.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Reports

VAN NUYS - Genesis Properties Inc. has sold an eight-story office building off Sepulveda Boulevard for $10 million.

Built in 1990, the 87,665-square-foot building in Van Nuys was purchased by David Weiner.

Prandium rejects regrouping bid

IRVINE - Irvine-based Prandium Inc. announced Friday that it rejected an unsolicited proposal from privately held Austin Grills Inc. to purchase Prandium's assets and reorganize its outstanding notes and equity.

Prandium owns and operates a portfolio of more than 170 full-service and fast-casual restaurants, including Chi-Chi's, Koo Koo Roo and Hamburger Hamlet.

Prandium and its wholly owned subsidiary, FRI-MRD Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier in the week.

PacifiCare names vice president

SANTA ANA - PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. Friday named Dr. Sam Ho as senior vice president and chief medical officer, effective immediately.

He replaces Dr. Michael Kaufman, who left the company to pursue other interests.

Prior to joining PacifiCare of California in 1994, Ho served as senior vice president, health services at Woodland Hills-based Health Net Inc.

He has also served as deputy director of health, medical director and county health officer for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Toy planes being recalled by firm

WASHINGTON - A Toronto company is recalling about 137,000 air-powered toy planes because their air intake chambers can burst, potentially injuring consumers with flying pieces of plastic.

Spin Master Toys has received seven reports of Firestormer planes bursting, including four reports of injuries to children, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday. The company is also recalling some of its Skyblazer planes, but has received no reports involving that model.

Only planes with date codes 12/29/01-KS through 03/24/02-KS are included in the recall. The date code is on the bottom of the pump.

The government said consumers should stop using the planes and contact Spin Master Toys at [phone] to receive a free replacement plane.

Resignation adds wrinkle to Gap

NEW YORK - The unexpected retirement of Gap's president and chief executive Millard Drexler has prompted a worldwide hunt to find a multiskilled successor even as the nation's largest apparel chain has been struggling for two years with declining sales, fashion missteps and eroding stock value.

Wall Street is concerned about the ability of Drexler's replacement - who might come from outside the retailing arena - to improve the company's fortunes.

Drexler, a 19-year veteran who helped transform Gap into a $14 billion fashion machine that made khakis and T-shirts chic, has made it clear he won't leave until the board finds the right person. Until then, Drexler, who became CEO in 1995, will remain in his current role and as acting president of the Gap division. A new Gap president is expected to be named this summer.

Report: Tobacco firms big on ads

WASHINGTON - Tobacco companies are spending more than ever on advertising and promotion, despite recent court-imposed restrictions, the government said Friday.

Increasingly, they are using in-store promotions - paying owners for prime shelf space and offering giveaways - to sell their products, a Federal Trade Commission report found.

The industry spent $9.5 billion on advertising and promotions in 2000, the last year for which such figures were available. The total was 16 percent greater than the previous year.