L.A. Venture Plans Undersea Cable Lines

Global Crossing Ltd., an undersea fiber-optic cable company controlled by Los Angeles financier Gary Winnick and former Atlantic Richfield Co. Chairman Lod Cook, said it would develop a $1-billion telecommunications cable system between Japan and the U.S. The U.S.-Japan cable is the fourth link being developed by Global Crossings and it is expected to be completed in 1999. The company already has other lines under development, including one from the U.S. to Europe, another from New York to the Caribbean and another one linking California, Mexico and Panama. Global Crossing is backed by a group of international investors led by Beverly Hills-based Pacific Capital Group, which is controlled by Winnick.