Carriage Services Inc. has agreed to purchase the Conejo Mountain Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Camarillo, the Houston-based company announced. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007. Details were not disclosed. Conejo Mountain performs approximately 275 funeral services and 390 cemetery internments annually. A new funeral home, sales and administrative facility is currently under construction and expected to be completed before the end of the year. Acquiring Conejo Mountain is consistent with the company’s growth strategy that focuses on premier businesses in selective geographic markets with positive long-term demographic trends, said Carriage Services Chairman and CEO Melvin Payne, in a statement. “The acquisition will be Carriage’s entr & #233;e into the Southern California market and will position us to develop similar opportunities in the greater Los Angeles market with the goal of building a concentrated group of quality operating assets similar to our portfolio in the San Francisco Bay area,” Payne said. Carriage Services is the fourth largest publicly traded death care company in the U.S and operates funeral homes and cemeteries in 38 states.

IHOP Corp. got a little egg in its face when an employee at one of its franchise operators in Quincy, Mass., insisted that a customer provide a photo I.D. in order to be seated. The employee apparently felt that the requirement would cut down on folks leaving without paying their checks. The customer, it turns out, was a security guard, who later told a Boston TV station he didn’t want to risk identity theft for a plate of pancakes, according to an Associated Press report. IHOP released a statement to the TV station saying the company had no knowledge of the policy, nor did it approve, and apologizing to the patron.

The Sylmar Chamber of Commerce holds its chamber evening mixer. 5:30 p.m. Barry Sylvan Company 13752 Foothill Blvd., Ste 2, Sylmar (818) 367-1177 sylmarchamber.com

A Nasdaq panel this week decided to put off making a decision on delisting the semiconductor maker Semtech Corp. in order to give the company additional time to restate financial results from earlier this year. The Camarillo-based supplier faces delisting for failing to comply with required deadlines to file quarterly reports. Semtech plans to restate financial statements from the first and second quarter to record additional non-cash compensation expense related to stock option grants. The company was notified Monday that a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel stayed any determinations to suspend Semtech securities from trading until the review process is complete. Semtech will release on Nov. 30 revenue and other selected financial results for the third quarter ending October 29.

Adventist Health/Home Care Services, part of Glendale Adventist Medical Center, was named to the 2006 HomeCare Elite list, a ranking of the top 25 percent in home care services. The ranking was determined by quality of care, improvement and financial performance of the facilities. The list was compiled by Outcome Concept Systems Inc., a Seattle company that provides data products and benchmark services for home health, hospice and private duty agencies. Eight other Adventist facilities also made the list.

Simulations Plus Inc., a Lancaster pharmaceutical modeling software developer, has released a new version modeling product for drug makers. ClassPharmer 4.2 features new technical features, easier navigation and integration of other industry software.

Countrywide Financial Corp. has launched its auto insurance in four states. Calabasas-based Countrywide is offering auto insurance in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado. Countrywide said that it plans to offer auto insurance in 25 new state markets by the end of next year.

The Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce holds its membership committee meeting. 11:45 a.m. Sisley Italian Kitchen 15300 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks (818) 906-1951 shermanoakschamber.org

The Valencia drug maker MannKind Corp. said it plans to offer 17.5 million shares of stock and $100 million in senior convertible notes in separate public offerings. MannKind plans to provide underwriters with a 30-day option to buy up to 2.6 million more shares to cover over-allotments for its stock offer. On the notes earning side, the company plans to give underwriters a 13-day option to purchase up to $15 million in additional notes to cover over-allotments, the company said. Underwriters include Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan Securities, which has reserved up to 8.8 million shares and $50 million in notes for sale to MannKind CEO Aldred Mann.

The percentage of first-time buyers who can afford a home in Los Angeles County has fallen again. According to statistics released by the California Association of Realtors, 19 percent of first-time buyers could afford a median-priced home in the county in the third quarter of 2006, down from 23 percent a year ago. The same pattern held true for the state, where 24 percent of first-time buyers can afford a home, down from 28 percent a year ago. The county median for single-family homes, $494,690, is higher than the state median of $478,710. In the San Fernando Valley, the median home price has risen to over $625,000. C.A.R. said that the minimum household income to buy a $478,710 home was $98,890, based on an adjustable interest rate of 6.58 and assuming a 10 percent down payment. First time home buyers typically purchase a home equal to 85 percent of the prevailing median price, the agency said.