BRIEFLY SITESTAR TO CREATE INDEPENDENT FIRM.

ENCINO - SiteStar announced plans Tuesday to create an independent company focused on content development.

The company, to be named Sitestar Applied Technologies, will be an independent public company that will trade under a separate symbol. Completion of the spin-off is set for January.

Under the proposed new structure, Sitestar's Internet Access division, Sitestar.net Inc., will continue to focus on providing Internet solutions for business and residential users.

Sitestar Applied Technologies will concentrate on the development of Web infrastructure by delivering an array of custom software and Web-enabling solutions to small- to midsize businesses.

- Daily News

Vertel Corp. sells network licenses

WOODLAND HILLS - Vertel Corp. has sold licenses of its telecommunications management network to ZhinZhen Node and ZhongXing in China for implementation in several wireless projects, the company announced Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cyrus Irani, president of the Woodland Hills-based company, said ZhinZhen will use the Vertel TMN development tools to build a global system for mobile communications monitoring application for a wireless equipment manufacturer in China.

ZhongXing will build network management applications that include the company's technology for two wireless service providers based on two different standards, GSM and Code Division Multiple Access.

- Daily News

By Crom! Stan Lee wins Conan franchise

Moving quickly to capitalize on its newest character acquisition, Stan Lee Media Inc. said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures to make a feature film franchise based on Conan the Barbarian.

Stan Lee, an Encino-based digital entertainment studio, acquired the rights to Conan Properties Inc. in September.

- Daily News

Guess? Retail up over year ago

Los Angeles-based Guess? Inc. reported Tuesday retail sales of $35.6 million for the five-week period ended Nov. 4, an increase of 23.5 percent over sales of $28.8 million for the comparable period a year ago.

But comparable store sales decreased 3.3 percent in October, vs. a 31.1 percent comparable sales increase in October 1999.

- City News Service

SBA plans seminar on business publicity

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering a new two-hour seminar called ``Publicity, Promotion, Advertising and You.''

The seminar, which will include ways to raise awareness of a business with minimum expense, will take place on the first Wednesday of each month 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the SBA Business Information Office at 3600 Wilshire Blvd.

The fee is $20 at the door.

- Daily News

Logo Athletic files for Chapter 11

INDIANAPOLIS - Licensed sports-clothing maker Logo Athletic Inc. has filed for protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of U.S. bankruptcy law.

The Indianapolis-based company filed for reorganization in Delaware on Monday.

Logo Athletic manufactures clothing under three brand names: Puma ATA, LogoAthletic and Logo 7.

- Associated Press