Nine West files for bankruptcy

NEW YORK >> Nine West Holdings Inc. has filed for bankruptcy protection, the latest retailer to do so as it attempts to restructure its debt and refocus on its more successful products.

The shoe chain said Friday the bankruptcy filing was made to ease the sale of its Nine West and Bandolino footwear and handbag business, and so it can focus more on its growing businesses, which include One Jeanswear Group, The Jewelry Group, the Kasper Group and Anne Klein. Nine West said it has an agreement with Authentic Brands Group for the Nine West and Bandolino brands.

Feds seize Backpage.com

WASHINGTON >> After a fight that pitted foes of sex trafficking against advocates of free internet speech, the Justice Department on Friday seized the Backpage.com website and raided the home of its co-founder. The site, long a haven for sex ads, began shutting down Friday morning as FBI agents began taking down a network of web pages all over the world. A notice on the site said it had been seized as part of an enforcement action by the FBI, the IRS and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Agents raided the Sedona, Ariz., home of Michael Lacey, the site’s co-founder, according to local media reports.

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ON THE MOVE

>> Central Pacific Bank has promoted Brian Moore to vice president and manager of construction loan monitoring. Moore has 40 years of experience in the construction and financial industries. Prior to joining CPB, he was a treasurer for Honsador Lumber for 25 years.

>> Porter McGuire Kiakona & Chow has announced the hiring of Forest B. Jenkins as a new associate attorney. Jenkins will handle covenant violations, and litigation and collections for clients on the neighbor islands as well as on Oahu.