Company Announcements

In April, a class action complaint was filed in federal court in Maryland against the Republic of Iraq, VWR, Thermo Fisher Scientific (previously Oxoid) and Alcolac (whose assets are owned by Rhodia). The suit alleges violation of the Geneva Convention, UN Security Council resolutions and international law, as well as negligence, strict liability, civil conspiracy, and aiding and abetting tortious conduct. The suit alleges that the defendants sold chemicals to Saddam Hussein’s regime in the 1980s, that these chemicals were used to manufacture chemical weapons used in attacks against Iraq’s Kurdish population, and that the firms had knowledge of these attacks.

PAC, a Roper Industries company, opened a sales office in Moscow, Russia, earlier this year.

TSI, a maker of aerosol measurement technology and a Spectris company, acquired certain assets related to the Helium Neon technology of Particle Metrics, a subsidiary of Research Electro-Optics, in April.

PerkinElmer named Frank A. “Andy” Wilson senior vice president, CFO and chief accounting officer in April. He was previously corporate vice president of Investor Relations at Danaher.

JEOL USA promoted Peter Genovese to president in April. Most recently, he was vice president and general manager of the Sales and Marketing Division.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Laboratory Products and Services segment purchased a Spain-based distributor of lab instruments and equipment for $8 million earlier this year.

Sigma-Aldrich President and CEO Dr. Jai Nagarkatti replaced Dr. David R. Harvey as chairman in May. Dr. Harvey remains a director.

Diploma Life Sciences’ revenue for the half year ended March 31 rose 2.2% to £32.1 million ($47.9 million) (see IBO 7/15/09), but declined 5% excluding currency effects and acquisitions. Operating profit fell 2.0% to £5.0 million ($7.5 million). Sales for Anachem and the Environmental business fell 9% as capital equipment sales declined. Cost reduction measures have been implemented, including an 8% reduction in head count.

In May, food safety–testing provider VICAM relocated from Watertown, Massachusetts, to the headquarters of Waters, its parent company, in Milford, Massachusetts.

Product Introductions

In April, Symyx Technologies launched the Symyx Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization for integrated contract formulation development, and preclinical and CGMP fill and finish manufacturing.

In May, GE Healthcare introduced Facility Validation Services, which use a Modular Validation Platform to work with customers as they plan and design their facilities and manufacturing processes.

PerkinElmer expanded its EcoAnalytix biofuels solutions to include nine systems involving six technologies.