The Burbank, California subsidiary was lauded in helping Avatar - the highest grossing film in history - to earn its Academy Awards for technical achievement.

The Wisers also had secondary insurance: Mr. Wiser had coverage through a plan that, as it happens, was administered by UnitedHealthcare's California subsidiary.

And there is substantial overlap in their two California subsidiaries.

As a result, the Japanese banks may delay any decision on the fate of the California subsidiaries and may instead choose to sell one of them, rather than attempt a combination, analysts said.

The London bank has also said that its California subsidiary, the Union Bank of Los Angeles, is up for sale.

First Interstate Bancorp said its California subsidiary, First Interstate Bank, would begin offering annuities for sale by branch managers and banking officers.

A1 Antitrust violations were charged against a California subsidiary of Waste Management Inc. and two smaller companies.

Domaine Carneros, a Northern California subsidiary of the French winemaker Champagne Taittinger, installed a solar system this summer.

He helped create an interest in good sparkling wine but was unable to compete with the well-financed European Champagne companies when they began to set up California subsidiaries in the 1970's.

While the lawsuit continued, Dynegy sold its California subsidiary to NRG Energy, Inc.