Broad-Based Companies

Company Announcements

In December 2016, Clemex completed its purchase by a shareholder group, which includes RAL Diagnostics (22%), Zwick Roell (59%) and Yves Bassat (19%) (see IBO 8/15/16). The purchase price was $3.8 million. Clemex shares were delisted from Canadian stock exchange the same month. For Clemex’s first half fiscal year results, see Reported Financial Results.

Bruker disclosed in its third quarter 2016 SEC filing that the Korea Fair Trade Commission fined the company $15,000 in connection with an investigation into improper bidding and several other companies in connection with x-ray systems in 2010 and 2012. The matter was referred for criminal prosecution. In 2015, company sales to South Korea account for 2% of revenues.

In November 2016, Agilent Technologies opened a $14.7 million, 53,000 ft2 (4,924 m2) Technology Center in Folsom, California, which will house 60 additional staff. The facility expands Agilent’s capabilities for chromatography consumables and hardware, including support for the Intuvo 9000 GC and consumables.

Agilent Technologies announced in January that Shane Snyder, PhD, professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Arizona in Tucson, received an Agilent Thought Leader Award in recognition of his research in water analysis. He and his team are developing an end-to-end workflow for effect-directed analysis designed to identify and characterize emerging contaminants in water supplies. The research will also create assays for determining the safety of wastewater reuse initiatives.

In January, Agilent Technologies extended its collaboration with the Centre for Human Genetics of the University of Leuven and the University Hospital of Leuven in Belgium. The new two-year agreement focuses on detecting genetic abnormalities in cell-free DNA and embryo biopsies. The earlier collaboration preceded the launch of Agilent’s OneSight software platform.

In January, Elementar announced that products made by its Isoprime subsidiary will now be marketed under the Elementar brand.

Illumina named Garret Hampton, PhD, as executive vice president of Clinical Genomics, effective January 9. He previously served as Global Head of Oncology Biomarker Development and Companion Diagnostics.

In January, Illumina named Caroline Dorsa to its Board. She has held a number of senior management positions at Merck & Co., including senior vice president of Marketing Strategy and Integration, and Vice President and Treasurer. Most recently, she served as executive vice president and CFO at Public Service Enterprise.

Illumina announced in February the fifth class of its Accelerator program, which in total has invested in 13 companies: Coax Biosystems, a synthetic ecology company; Resilient Biotics, a microbiome therapeutics company; and Haystack Sciences, a small molecule discovery company.

In February, Illumina announced the appointment of John Thompson to its Board, effective May 3, increasing the size of its Board from 10 to 11 members. He is chairman of Microsoft and former CEO of Symantec.

Eppendorf named William A. Linton, chairman and CEO of Promega, to its Supervisory Board in January.

In January, Spectris appointed Kjersti Wiklund to its Board. He is a non-executive director of Laird. Laird is a global technology company providing systems, components and solutions that protect electronics from electromagnetic interference and heat, and that enable connectivity in wireless applications and antennae systems.

In the fourth quarter 2016, GE Healthcare Life Sciences sales grew 9% organically, with 15% growth for bioprocess, according to the company’s quarterly conference call. Life Sciences orders grew 6% organically, with bioprocess orders up 7%.

In January, refurbished lab equipment firm American Laboratory Trading launched Asset Management Solutions, a new division designed to help life science companies monetize surplus assets and maximize their return on investment. Services include surplus asset disposition, turnkey move management and asset management software.

Anton Paar reported that its Anton Paar ShapeTec subsidiary, a supplier of single parts and complete assemblies to the subcontracting industry, reported 2015 sales of €21.8 million ($24.2 milion).

Xylem’s fourth quarter 2016 Test sales rose 3%.

QIAGEN announced in February that it appointed Dr. Thomas Schweins as senior vice president, Life Science Business Area, in addition to his current role as a member of the Executive Committee.

Fourth quarter 2016 sales for Mettler-Toledo’s Lab business grew 8% in local currency, 6% organically, to account for 50% of company revenues. Growth was driven by increased demand in all product lines and strength in biopharmaceutical markets. Geographically, Lab sales were particularly strong in China and grew in Europe. Most products line recorded steady sales growth in the Americas, except for the AutoChem business, where sales declined in North America due to a strong comparison. Despite slow growth in the pipette business, full-year Lab sales advanced 8% in local currency. Including the acquisition of Troemner, 2017 Lab sales are projected to grow in the upper mid-single digits.

In February, Sartorius announced a partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) as part of the EMBL’s Corporate Partnership Program. EMBL is actively expanding its footprint by strengthening activities beyond the academic sphere into industry.

Sartorius announced in February that it appointed Rainer Lehmann, senior vice president for the Business Processes unit to its Executive Board, effective March 1, succeeding Jörg Pfirmann.

Danaher named Raymond C. Stevens, PhD, to its Board, in February. He is Provost Professor of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and director of The Bridge Institute, at the University of Southern California.

Metrohm USA announced in February the ground breaking of its new North American headquarters in Riverview, Florida. The nearly $20 million facility is scheduled to be completed in early 2018. Metrohm USA, the company’s largest subsidiary, employs 250 people.

In February, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments formed a strategic partnership with MIDI, maker of the Sherlock chromatography analysis software, to develop and market automated chromatographic solutions for agri-biotech, biodefense, dietary supplement, food science, forensics and renewable energy labs. Shimadzu is combining its 2010 GC, i-Series UHPLC, GC/MS chromatography systems and LabSolutions software with Sherlock. The first product launch will be for automated microbial identification and soil PLFA analysis on the 2010 GC product line.

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