BRIEFCASE K-SWISS REVEALS STOCK REPURCHASE.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

WESTLAKE VILLAGE - Athletic footwear maker K-Swiss Inc. announced Tuesday that it would a stock repurchase program to buy back up to $25 million of the company's class A common Stock. The buyback follows a $25 million stock repurchase approved in September 2001.

The new buyback represents 5.5 percent of outstanding class A and B common stock, based on a closing price of $25.41 per share Tuesday. The repurchase authorization is valid through Dec. 31, 2007.

During the third quarter of 2002, the company purchased a total of 714,400 shares of class A common stock for $13.5 million.

Toy maker wins big 'Cat' contract

MALIBU - Toy company Jakks Pacific, Inc. announced that it has signed a two-year licensing agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to sell products based on the upcoming live-action film ``Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat.'' The movie, which stars Mike Myers in the title role, is in production and is scheduled for release next Thanksgiving.

Under the agreement, Jakks Pacific's Flying Colors unit will create a full line of crafts, stationery and back-to-school items based on ``Cat in the Hat'' characters.

Pollo Campero expanding to U.S.

The international Pollo Campero rotisserie chicken chain on Tuesday named Los Angeles-based Kosmont Realty Corp. as its agent to locate sites for expansion in Southern California and the Western United States.

Pollo Campero recently opened its first restaurant in Los Angeles at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Union Street.

With sales of more than $1 million in its first seven weeks, the restaurant set a record for Pollo Campero units anywhere in the world. Since then, Pollo Campero restaurants have opened in Panorama City and Huntington Park, and a fourth unit is under construction in South Gate.

Ichino receives Universal nudge

UNIVERSAL CITY - Universal Pictures announced on Tuesday the promotion of Masako Ichino to vice president, business affairs.

In her new position, she will continue to negotiate deals for books, screenplays and other source material, as well as above-the-line talent agreements for writers, producers, directors and actors for Universal's movie projects.

Ichino joined Universal Pictures as director, business affairs in July 1998. She was previously director of business and legal affairs at USA Broadcasting Inc. and manager of business and legal affairs at Savoy Pictures Inc.

Pac Bell request earns key backing

SAN FRANCISCO - The Justice Department on Tuesday endorsed SBC Pacific Bell's request to sell Californians long distance service, which is pending before the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC will decide Pac Bell's request by December using recommendations from the Justice Department and California regulators. San Francisco-based Pac Bell filed its request in September.

In a statement, Justice officials noted other phone companies are competing with Pac Bell for local service customers, and said federal requirements that Pac Bell and other regional bells charge competitors less to use their networks had helped encourage that competition.

The department also noted the FCC's statistics show Pac Bell has local service competitors in at least 85 percent of ZIP codes in its service territory.