Business Briefs

2 Big Isle real estate firms begin merger

Hilo-based Prudential Orchid Isle Properties has begun merging with Clark Realty Corp. of Kona and plan to complete the transition by mid-November.

Bob and Syleste Williams, who founded Prudential Orchid in 1988, will remain involved in the operations of the Hualalai Street office in Hilo. Bob Williams will remain the broker in charge and will join the Clark Realty management as a vice president. Syleste Williams also will help lead Clark Realty’s core services team. Along with the Williamses, the agents and staff of Prudential Orchid also will move to Clark Realty, bringing the total number of sales agents and staff to more than 150 islandwide.

Tesla says car fire began in battery

SEATTLE » A fire that destroyed a $70,000 Tesla electric car near Seattle began in the vehicle’s battery pack, officials said Wednesday, creating challenges for firefighters who tried to put out the flames.

Company spokeswoman Liz Jarvis-Shean said the fire Tuesday was caused by a large metallic object hitting one of the battery pack’s modules in the pricey Model S. The fire was contained to a small section at the front of the vehicle, she said, and no one was injured.

Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. fell more than 6 percent Wednesday after an Internet video showed flames spewing from the vehicle, which Tesla has touted as the safest car in America.

The liquid-cooled 85 kilowatt-hour battery in the Tesla Model S is mounted below the passenger compartment floor and uses lithium-ion chemistry similar to the batteries in laptop computers and mobile phones.

Investors and companies have been particularly sensitive to the batteries’ fire risks, especially given issues in recent years involving the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid car and Boeing’s new 787 plane.

Marc Jacobs says farewell to Louis Vuitton

PARIS » What was likely designer Marc Jacobs’ last ready-to-wear collection for Louis Vuitton looked like a show in mourning Wednesday — black, black and more black.

A dark fountain and a nightmarish carousel with inky horses were the backdrop for a universe of clothes all in black. Maids cleaned away dust from the steps of the disturbing set, which traced Jacobs’ influential 16-year reign at Vuitton.

Shortly after the show at the Louvre Museum in Paris, the visual metaphor was explained: French luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton announced that Jacobs was stepping down as creative director of its flagship brand.

Jacobs, who is also the director of an eponymous brand, is one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Under his tenure, Louis Vuitton became the most lucrative fashion house in the world, in part thanks to his creation of a ready-to-wear line.

ON THE MOVE

The Hawai‘iConvention Center has announced the promotion and appointment of the following employees:

» Gary Matsu­moto to executive chef from banquet manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in restaurant and kitchen management, including general manager at The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong, and held chef positions at Alan Wong’s Honolulu.

» Paul Matsumoto is banquet chef. He has more than 27 years of food and beverage experience, including serving as chef and in operations management positions at Stage Restaurant, Alan Wong’s The Pineapple Room and Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay.

» Alan H. Kodama has become a private wealth adviser. He is among 6 percent of the nearly 10,000 Ameriprise financial advisers to achieve this status. Kodama is also part of PacStar Financial Group, which is a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services.