BUSINESS NOTES; BOEING TO ACQUIRE LASER SPECIALIST.

CANOGA PARK - In a bid to expand its laser and optics business, Boeing Co. said Tuesday it will acquire SVS Inc., an Albuquerque, N.M., high-tech company with expertise in the electro-optical arena.

SVS was founded in 1993 and specializes in electro-optical systems and image processing solutions for aerospace, defense and commercial customers. Boeing's Laser and Electro Optical Systems is headquartered at West Hills Corporate Village.

The company currently provides precision acquisition, tracking, pointing and imaging products, and system engineering on major Department of Defense directed-energy programs.

SVS has been a Boeing subcontractor since the company was formed. The deal fits with Boeing's plan to grow its laser and electro-optics business.

SVS has 115 employees at its headquarters in Albuquerque and other locations throughout the country. In March, NASA selected SVS to lead a team to define design options for NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder mission to identify Earth-like planets around other stars.

- Daily News

VALLEY'S IPC GETS ARIZONA CONTRACT

IPC, The Hospitalist Co., said Tuesday that it had entered into an agreement with Casa Blanca Medical Group in Phoenix to provide inpatient hospital coverage at four area hospitals.

Based in North Hollywood, IPC provides acute-care specialists who focus on the patient's hospital and sub-acute care, taking charge from time of admission to time of discharge.

Saul Blair, executive director of IPC's Phoenix office, said company physicians will be caring for patients of the Casa Blanca Medical Group at Desert Samaritan Hospital, Mesa General Hospital, Mesa Lutheran Hospital and Valley Lutheran Hospital.

IPC has been serving the Greater Phoenix area since 1998.

The health care company also has a 5-year-old practice in Tucson, along with practice locations in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Chicago, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, St. Louis and Denver.

- Daily News