SAN FRANCISCO-Robertson Stephens, an investment bank that is owned by FleetBoston Financial, plans to lay off half its staff cut costs and make way for a potential management buyout.

VIENNA, VA-Retail-only real estate services provider ChainLinks Retail Advisors Inc. elects Jon Kushner of Conshohocken, PA's Fameco Real Estate Corp./ChainLinks to be its new chairman. He replaces Dan Gardiner of Phoenix Commercial Advisors/ChainLinks, who was elected to the position last year.

LOS ANGELES, CA-The money is for a 209,000-sf office tower at 5933 W. Century Blvd., near the Los Angeles International Airport. The 22-story building was built in 1982 and has undergone several minor renovations since.

SAN DIEGO-Equus purchased the property in 1996 for $5.4 million with $4.95 million of secured debt provided by GE Capital. It just sold for $16 million, giving investors received a 300% return over six years.