BRIEFCASE WOMEN'S WORKOUT OPENING IN VALLEY.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

NORTHRIDGE - Fitness has a new face in Northridge. Curves for Women, a weight loss and workout center built around a short, intense exercise regimen, celebrated its grand opening this week.

Located at the corner of Balboa Boulevard and Nordhoff Street, the gym highlights 30-second workouts on a series of hydraulic machines designed specifically for women.

Owned by sisters Mayme Paul-Thompson of Agoura Hills and Angie Harper of Northridge, this is the first of the nationally based chain in the San Fernando Valley.

Nestle unit teams with Ocean Spray

GLENDALE - Nestle USA's Beverage Division in Glendale and Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. announced Friday a long-term strategic operations alliance.

According to a joint statement, the move will enable both companies to ``significantly increase manufacturing and supply-chain efficiency, while maintaining high-quality products for their respective juice businesses.''

Nestle will transition over time its manufacturing of Libby's Juicy Juice and Libby's Kerns Nectars to Ocean Spray facilities, he said.

The companies will also pursue collaborative procurement of common raw and packaging materials, and common operating supplies, as well as shared logistics to increase process efficiency across the supply chain.

Hamer Toyota set to celebrate 63rd

MISSION HILLS - Hamer Toyota of Mission Hills is celebrating its 63rd anniversary this weekend with a celebration and giveaway.

The company, which has seen more than 90,000 customers since opening as a general auto service station in 1939, will host several racing cars and personalities beginning at 9 a.m. today.

A Tacoma pickup with a Giant mountain bike will be given to a randomly selected visitor to the car lot and 11041 Sepulveda Blvd. Radio personality Joe Benson of KCBS (93.1 FM) will select the winner Sunday afternoon.

Ex-GE chairman to be on CNBC 

NEW YORK - Jack Welch, the former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., will become a contributor to CNBC, the cable news channel owned by GE subsidiary NBC.

Beginning Feb. 7, Welch will appear on CNBC's morning show ``Squawk Box'' once per quarter as a guest host to provide commentary on business topics and trends. He first appeared on the show as a guest host in December.

Welch also will make regular appearances on CNBC's evening show, ``Business Center with Ron Insana and Sue Herera.''

Welch, the subject of numerous books, has been promoting his memoir ``Jack: Straight from the Gut'' since retiring as GE's top executive last September.

Welch is scheduled to begin making his regular appearances on ``Squawk Box'' the same week that CNBC's rolls out a new daytime schedule.

Recalls needed, Mercedes, GM say

WASHINGTON - Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 65,000 cars after owners complained of exploding batteries. General Motors is recalling 546,000 sport utility vehicles because the brake and hazard lights can fail.

Mercedes-Benz is asking owners of all 1998 and some 1999 C Class models to bring them to dealers so they can check the battery fluid. If the fluid is too low, it can expose electric plates and ignite gases inside.

The GM recall affects 2000 and 2001 models of its Chevrolet Blazer, GMC Jimmy and Oldsmobile Bravada. GM is aware of two crashes, but no injuries, related to the brake or hazard lights failing. Mercedes-Benz and GM will make free repairs.

Lockheed expects turnaround soon

BETHESDA, Md. - Defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp. lost $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter, much of it stemming from charges related to a telecommunications division sold in December.

However, the defense giant said Friday it expected earnings to rebound substantially in 2002 because of the massive joint strike fighter contract it won last year.

The defense giant posted a loss of $3.49 per share in the October-December period, compared to earnings of $89 million, or 21 cents per share, in 2000.

For 2002, Lockheed said it expects earnings per share to be between $2.45 and $2.50 per share and sales growth of up to 7 percent. Net sales for 2002 are anticipated to be between $25 billion and $25.8 billion, and 2003 sales are anticipated to be between $26.4 billion and $27.4 billion.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial/First Call expect Lockheed will earn $2.39 a share in 2002. A big reason for the higher financial expectations in 2002 is the production of the JSF. Lockheed won the contract over Boeing in October, and said it has $19 billion in orders.

ImClone suffers from investigation

ImClone Systems Inc.'s woes mounted Friday and its stock tumbled to the lowest level in a year after the company disclosed two federal agencies are investigating the biotechnology firm.

The New York City company said in a regulatory filing Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are probing allegations that ImClone executives misled investors about troubles surrounding its highly anticipated cancer drug Erbitux.

A congressional panel announced last week it would investigate insider trading at ImClone, as well as the company's handling of its failed application for Food and Drug Administration approval.