Also . . .

Los Angeles-based Union Bank of California, a subsidiary of UnionBanCal Corp., was rated the best company for minorities in the nation in a study by the Council on Economic Priorities and is featured on the cover of the current Fortune magazine. The survey said 36% of Union Bank’s officials and managers are minorities, as are 53.7% of its overall work force, seven of the 17 members of the board of directors, five of the top 25 best-paid employees and 56% of new hires. Sempra Energy, Toyota Motor Sales and Bank of America were also among the 25 best workplaces for minorities, according to the survey.