Learning Co. to Close California Plant, Cut Jobs

Learning Co., the No. 1 education software maker, said it will cut 500 jobs and shut a California plant of its newly acquired Broderbund Software Inc. unit to reduce expenses by $50 million a year. Broderbund makes the best-selling computer fantasy game “Myst.” The plant in Petaluma, Calif., will be shut in November, while various Broderbund offices in Novato, Calif., will be consolidated into one. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company, which completed its acquisition of Broderbund on Aug. 31, said it expects to take a $15-million charge in the third quarter as a result of the job cuts. Learning Co. shares rose 31 cents to close at $19.31 on the New York Stock Exchange.