Agilent provides bio-analytical and electronic measurement solutions to the communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis industries.

The deal to buy Dako is part of its effort to increase its presence in the clinical diagnostics market.
Agilent’s bio-analytical measurement business provides instruments, software, consumables and services that allow customers to measure and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products.

The company’s measurement business complements Dako’s tissue diagnostic technology and position in the life sciences field, Agilent said.

"In the rapidly growing diagnostics market, Dako’s products and capabilities are a strategic complement to Agilent’s existing offerings,” said Agilent’s president and CEO, Bill Sullivan.

"Dako is one of the world’s leading providers of cancer diagnostics tools, and together we will be able to develop a wider range of products that help in the fight against cancer."

"Agilent’s strategy in acquiring Dako is about strengthening the company’s presence in life science and about revenue growth."

Agilent serves customers in more than 100 countries, and had net revenue of $6.6 billion last year.

Dako’s reagents, antibodies, scientific instruments, and software are used to accurately diagnose and determine effective treatments for cancer patients. The company also works with many large pharmaceutical companies to develop new potential pharmacodiagnostics that are used to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from a specific targeted therapy.

"Our combined companies will have complementary strengths. Like Agilent, Dako has a long history as a leader in scientific advancement and a culture that values discovery and innovation. We believe that Agilent and Dako are a winning combination," said Dako’s CEO Lars Holmkvist.

Dako is also present in more than 100 countries, and had net revenue of roughly $340 million last year.

The deal, which is slated to close within the next 60 days, is subject to customary conditions.

Shares of Agilent were trading at $39.76 pre-market Thursday morning.

The company manufactures bromine and crude salt and specialty chemical products in China for use in the oil and gas, agricultural and paper-making industries.

Based on the current business outlook, the company estimates that bromine prices, a factor with a large impact on its operating performance, will fluctuate between a range of RMB23,150 per tonne and RMB30,000 per tonne in fiscal year 2012.

Gulf Resources projects total sales of between $114.7 and $147.3 million for the year, and earnings in the range of $16.8 and $30.5 million.

Gulf noted its forecast does not take into account the effect on earnings resulting from costs incurred from potential drilling expenditures for testing and exploring underground bromine water resources in Daying County, Sichuan Province.

"Although we expect bromine prices to stay relatively constant and stable in fiscal year 2012 due to the continued slowdown of the economy in China, we believe the strategy of exploring more brine water resources and obtaining bromine assets through acquisitions will enable us to achieve long term growth in the future," president and CEO, Xiaobin Liu.

"We have sufficient cash flow for our operating activities and will continue to look for attractive acquisition targets."

Gulf Resources operates through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Co. and Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co.

The laboratory equipment provider said that, as a result of challenging markets and a poor foreign currency outlook, it now expects earnings between $4.11 and $4.17 per share for 2011, down from its previous guidance of between $4.15 and $4.25 per share, and below analysts' $4.20 per share estimate.

Revenues are now expected in the range of $11.62 to $11.70 billion. It had previously forecast sales in the range of $11.79 billion to $11.89 billion, while analysts are expecting $11.8 billion.

Investors reacted to the news, sending the company's stock down 9.26 percent, to $48.30 as of 2:29 pm EDT.

"Similar to what we saw at the end of the third quarter, it appears that academic and government markets will continue to be challenging for the balance of the year," said Marc N. Casper, president and CEO.

"We remain well-positioned to navigate through this current environment to deliver solid growth, profitability and shareholder value."

For the three months ending October 1, Thermo Fisher posted net income of $265.4 million, or $0.69 per share, down one percent from $268.5 million, or $0.66 per share, a year ago.

Adjusted for certain one-time items related to restructuring and amortization, earnings were $409.2 million, or $1.07 per share.

Revenues rose 13 percent to $2.97 billion, from $2.63 billion in the same period last year.

Analysts polled by Bloomberg Businessweek had estimated earnings of $1.07 per share, on $3.0 billion in sales.

The company's analytical technologies segment posted revenues of $1.0 billion, up 22 percent, while its specialty diagnostics unit boosted sales by 20 percent to $614.7 million, and its laboratory products and services business had $1.48 billion in sales, a five percent increase.

In other news, the company said it completed its acquisition of Phadia, adding to the company's diagnostics segment with blood tests for allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Thermo Fisher also repurchased 4.0 million shares of its common stock for $225 million during the quarter.

The transaction will be valued at about €2.47 billion, or $3.5 billion, and is expected to be finalized sometime during the fourth quarter of this year.

Founded in 1967, Phadia manufactures and markets blood-test systems to aid the clinical diagnosis and monitoring of allergy and autoimmune diseases. The company reported sales of €367 million, or $525 million, in 2010, with an annual growth rate of 10% on a constant currency basis.

The company will become part of Thermo Fischer’s specialty diagnostics business within its analytical technologies division.

"The acquisition of Phadia is a major step forward in our strategy to enhance Thermo Fisher's global presence in specialty diagnostics, one of our key growth platforms," said president and CEO Marc N. Casper.

Upon closure of the deal, Thermo Fischer said it expects adjusted earnings per share to grow to between 26 to 30 cents in 2012.

In addition, the acquisition is anticipated to bring $35 million of cost and revenue synergies in 2014, with $10 million by 2012.
The deal is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Thermo Fischer, which is based in Waltham, Massachusetts, plans to fund the acquisition through debt from Barclays Capital and cash on hand.

Shares for Thermo Fischer were up Thursday by 3.83% trading at $65.14 as of 12 p.m. EST.

That shipment,worth $19.8 million, represents nearly 23% of China Armco’s revenues in 2009. 

 “...This strategic relationship offers us a strong opportunity to secure our metal distribution position in China while maximizing profitability,” said China Armco’s CEO Kexuan Yao. 

According to China Armco, Mineracao intends to deliver 3 million metric tons of iron ore to China in 2011, as well as potentially another 20 million metric tons in 2012.  Mineracao, which accounts for 28% of the Brazil’s total steel output, according to China Armco’s press release today, has an annual production capacity of 9.5 million metric tons of steel. 

Besides metal ore distribution, China Armco is also in the metal recycling business with the recent launch of its metal recycling facility.  The facility is capable of recycling up to about one million metric tons of scrap metal per year. 

Since the announcement, China Armco’s shares rallied 17% to trade at $2.75 as of 3:54 pm EST.

The suit, heard in the U.S. District Court in Delaware, alleged that AK Steel and two other steel producers have infringed on a U.S. patent for aluminum-coated, boron-bearing carbon steels, used mainly for high-strength automotive applications.

In a decision announced last Friday, the jury found the ArcelorMittal patent invalid and there was no infringement.
The decision, AK Steel said, will alleviate customer concerns of lawsuits and allow the company to start selling the product in the U.S.  

While it has had the capability to produce the product for several years, potential customers had been concerned about the pending legal action brought by ArcelorMittal, AK Steel said.

AK Steel, headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels for the car, appliance, construction, and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6,200 people.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO), a provider of laboratory equipment, said today that it will buy Dionex, a manufacturer of chemical separation systems, for $2.1 billion, or $118.50 per share in cash. 

The purchase price represents a 21% premium to Dionex's closing stock price on Friday.

The deal will add Dionex’s ion and liquid separation offerings to Thermo Fisher’s gas separation offerings.  The deal also gives Thermo Fisher better access to the Asia-Pacific region and emerging markets since Dionex currently generates more than 35% of its revenues there. 

Also, the combined company will be able to offer water analysis products, where growth is driven by new regulatory requirements and increased testing in developing countries such as China.                           

As a result of the deal, Thermo Fisher expects to realize operating synergies of $60 million in the third year after the transaction’s close. 

The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Thermo Fisher's adjusted earnings per share by 13 cents to 15 cents  in the first year following the close.

Thermo Fisher said it intends to use cash on hand and proceeds from committed financing from Barclays Capital and J.P. Morgan Securities to pay for the deal.  As of October 2, Thermo Fisher had about $930 million in cash.

Dionex will be integrated into Thermo Fisher's Analytical Technologies Segment after closing of the deal.

 The transaction, approved by both companies’ boards, is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011. 

Dionex’s share price has rallied almost 20% on the pre-market to trade at $117.75 as of 9:18 am.  Meanwhile, Thermo Fisher’s shares have rallied 3.6% to trade at $54.95.

The blackouts are part of Jiangsu Provincial Government’s efforts to meet annual industrial energy usage targets set by the central government.

The energy restrictions are expected to decrease the company’s revenue in 2010 by as much as $40 million, prompting a revision in its 2010 guidance to net income and sales exceeding $8 million and $140 million, respectively.  Previously, the company expected 2010 revenues to exceed $180 million and net income to exceed $10 million. In 2009, the company recorded net income of $5.1 million on revenue of $86.9 million. 

Despite the temporary setback, its recycling operations will recover as production utilization rates increase, the company said.  

For the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the company had current assets of $32.3 million, about 10% of which was cash.  Current liabilities and long term debt totalled $21.7 million. 

Last month, the company added nine additional cutting machines to expand production capacity at its metal recycling facility.  The recycling facility, located in Lianyungang, China, is expected to be capable of recycling one million metric tons of scrap metal per year. 

China Armco's product lines include ferrous and non-ferrous ore, iron ore, chrome ore, nickel ore, magnesium, copper ore, manganese ore and steel billet. The company also engages in metal recycling through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Armet Renewable Resourced.

The placement will involve an initial issue of 12.5m shares at $0.15 each, under the company’s existing 15% capacity, to raise A$1,875,000 before costs.

After shareholder approval is received, a further issue of 16.75m shares at $0.15 each to raise a further A$2,512,500 before costs.

China Armco Metals, Inc. is a U.S. based company doing business in China. Armco & Metawise (H.K.) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of China Armco founded in July 2001, is engaged in the distribution of metal ores, steel scrap, and non-ferrous metals within China.

Apollo owns the exploration rights of three mineral tenements at Mount Oscar in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, containing a significant iron ore deposit.

In a statement Apollo said the funds raised will be used to advance the company’s exploration activities, to carry out processing option studies and to evaluate opportunities to access local infrastructure and other project opportunities.

Apollo has agreed to an offtake agreement to sell to Armco not less than 15% of the off-take from its flagship Mount Oscar iron ore project.

Sevag Chalabian, Apollo’s Chairman, believes the agreement with Armco will play a key role towards advancing the company’s exploration success along “with potential customers in the rapidly growing Chinese iron ore and steel industries.”

Prior to entering into the Subscription Agreement, Armco conducted an extensive due diligence, including a site visit to the company’s flagship Mount Oscar project and believes the project has the potential to become a significant iron ore project.

Revenue for the licensing division in 2009 decreased 56% to $3.9 million (2008: $8.85 million) and in Q4 09 decreased 72.6% to $0.42 million (Q4 08: $1.5 million). Revenue for structural products fell 27.5% to just under $9 million (2008:$12.4 million) and decreased 67.9% in Q4 09 to $0.9 million (Q4 08: $2.9 million).

“Revenue has been impacted by the current economic situation which has resulted in a general slowdown in the construction industry,” Genesis added. “Furthermore, revenues for the year ended 2009 were impacted by the Company's inability to maintain consistent sustained production from manufacturing as it continued to manage working capital.”

Genesis chalked up a net loss in Q4 09 of $6.78 million, or 17 cents per share (Q4 08: loss $1.7 million, or 5 cents per share.

In order to tackle the disappointing results, the company has embarked on a program to secure joint venture partners in regions where there is sufficient demand for its light steel products.

“This strategy creates a new business model that gives Genesis a stake in an existing or newly formed joint venture corporation. An equity stake in the business will allow the Company to share in the potential profits of this operation and to directly influence the direction and success of the business.”

The Toronto based company confirmed that it was in discussions with a number of groups, including Alexandria Steel Forming, and Manazil Steel Framing which operate in Egypt and Abu Dhabi respectively.  Genesis has also entered into discussions with Codding Enterprises for the United States and Latin America. Codding is Genesis’s largest shareholder.

Finally, and no less concerning for shareholders, the company confirmed it had received a demand letter for all payments owing from its lender.  One of Genesis’s currently shareholders has entered into discussions to buy the purchase the loan.

Net profit rose 82.2 percent in the same period to US$3.37 million.

Overall performance for the first six months of 2009 was strong, largely driven by significant growth in its metals distribution business leading to record sales of US$27.9 million for the first half compared to US$22.79 million for the same period in 2008.

Net profit in the first half came to US$3.5 million, up from US$2.59 million previously.

CEO and Chairman Kexuan Yao said: "We are extremely pleased with the strong performance of our operations in the first half of 2009. Our sales efforts in the second quarter benefited from a strong rebound in several key metal markets. We believe this momentum will continue in the coming quarters and we intend to make every effort to improve our operating results further.”

“We believe our expanded credit lines, coupled with the anticipated launch of our scrap metal recycling facility later this year places the company in the strongest financial position in its history and poised for an extended period of exceptional growth."