Friday, October 31, 2014

Atwood Oceanics: A Global Drilling Company


The oil and gas industry needs drilling companies like Atwood Oceanics to help them drill in exploratory regions. The company is one of the global drilling businesses that are publicly held on the New York Stock Exchange.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the business has been around since 1968 and started its drilling operations in 1970. There are several subsidiaries of the company that work around the globe. Together with Atwood Oceanics Pacific Limited (A.O.P.L.), the business forms the Atwood Group. The group owns and operates 13 mobile offshore drilling units and two more ultra-deepwater drillships are in the construction phase. Currently, the business owns and operates the Atwood Advantage and the Atwood Achiever, two state of the art drillships. The Atwood Archer and the Atwood Admiral are set to be operational by March 2015.

There are more than 1,200 employees that the company salaries. These associates are governed by their eight member Board of Directors.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Becton, Dickson and Company: Marketing Medical Devices Around the World


Considered as one of the oldest American medical technology companies in the world, Becton, Dickson and Company has been around since 1897. The company is a manufacturer, developer and marketer of various instrument systems, reagents and medical devices. As a global medical device provider, the company has a presence in more than 50 countries and its products are marketed around the world.

This Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based company generates more than $7.7 billion in annualized revenue. It continues to dominate the medical equipment industry with its expertise and its strongly committed employees that number to more than 30,000. The business is a component of the S&P 500 and the Russell 3000 Indices. It is also worth noting that the company has been ranked in the Fortune 500 list (347th in 2009 and 312th in 2010). Just this October 2014, the acquisition of the business has been agreed on and for a price of $12.2 billion in cash and stocks, CareFusion is to take over the entire enterprise.

There are three operating segments in Becton, Dickson and Company. These divisions include BD Biosciences, BD Medical and BD Diagnostics. These business units continue to innovate its offerings to the world and make a difference in the world of medicine. Among its legacies include the pioneering of the production of hypodermic needles and the marketing of the first glass syringes. Their medical division continues to lead in the generation of their annual revenue. It is responsible for generating more than 52% of the entire company’s revenue. This division produces intravenous catheters, needles, syringes, drug delivery systems, surgical blades and scalpels and several other medical devices and equipment.

The pool of customers of Becton, Dickinson includes clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industries, sciences researchers, healthcare institutions, medical practitioners and the general public. The business was founded by partners Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Aceto Corp: A Global Virtual Manufacturing Company


Several industries rely on the raw products that Aceto Corp markets. The company primarily functions as a virtual manufacturing company for businesses that thrive in the pharmaceutical industry, coatings and industrial chemical consuming industries, nutraceutical and agricultural industry.

The products of the company are active ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates including specialty chemicals and agricultural protection products. It operates through its three business segments: Human Health, Performance Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Ingredients. As of, there are more than 1,100 chemical compounds that the business distributes throughout the world. Its main operations focus on 9 countries. Their products are mostly sourced from businesses in China (500 companies) and in India (200 companies) which they then distribute from their facilities in those 9 countries.

Because of the strategic position of the business, they have easily penetrated the global markets. The company’s success is mainly attributed to their 3 core strengths: Global Technical Network, Relationships with manufacturers and Experienced Staff.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Ametek: Global Provider of Scientific Instruments and Devices


From the American Machine and Metals in 1930, the company changed its name to become Ametek, a multi-billion dollar global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, the company is one of the leading providers of scientific instrumentations used in various industries.

With the name change that happened in the 1960s, the company has also evolved from a heavy machinery manufacturer to a creator of analytical instruments, specialty materials and precision components. The success and the growth plan of the company is grounded on the four strategies of the business: New Products, Global & Market Expansion, Operational Excellence and Strategic Acquisitions & Alliances. Through these key strategies, they are able to provide more value to their investors while expanding their global reach and ensuring strong total capital returns. The business continues to trade publicly on the New York Stock Exchange and is a component of the S&P 400 and the Russell 1000 Index.

There are more than 100 brand names that the product owns. These products are grouped into two segments: Electronic Instruments Group and Electromechanical Group. Their product portfolio includes testing and calibration devices, analytical instruments, monitoring instruments, pumps, electrical motors and interconnects. The 100 brand names that the company controls are mostly out of the acquisitions it has made through the years. Together, these products generate more than $3.59 billion in annualized revenue. The brand names of the company has been patronized by some of the world’s biggest and most influential industries. Because of the strategic locations of their 120 manufacturing facilities, they are able to immediately address customer needs and demands. They also have more than 100 sales and service locations across the country and in 30 other countries that are readily capable of showcasing the product offerings of the business. Ametek employs more than 15,000 associates around the world.

Friday, October 17, 2014

WhiteWave Foods: Producer of Packaged Food and Organic Produce


The acquisition WhiteWave Foods made in January 2014 added to the operations and the size of the business. It was Earthbound Farms that the company acquired, the largest grower of organic produce in America.

WhiteWave Foods is listed as a consumer packaged food and beverage company that has operations in the Americas and as well as in Europe. The company is the owner of Horizon Organic, Silk, International Delight, Land O’ Lakes, Alpro and Provamel. The business is engaged in the manufacturing, marketing, distribution and direct selling of branded foods and beverages that include coffee, creamers, organic produce, premium dairy and other beverages. The business was once a subsidiary of Dean Foods and was spun off in an IPO in August 2012.

The company is known as one of the packaged food businesses that have strongly underscored their commitment to sustainability. The company has initiatives in greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation and ingredient sourcing. Not only is this helping the enterprise’s expenses, but also addresses its social responsibilities in the community.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Silicon Valley Bank: Helping Innovative Businesses Succeed


Silicon Valley Bank is an international high-tech commercial bank with operations in the United States, in China, India, Israel and in the United Kingdom. This financial institution is a subsidiary of the SVB Financial Holding company. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol SIVB.

As the name suggests, the home market of the company is the Silicon Valley, where it offers private banking services to high-net-worth individuals. These individuals are typically categorized as those who have investable finances of more than $1 million. That said, the company only caters to the financial services needs of those upper class individuals the country. The majority of the operations of the company revolves around financing technology companies. There are more than 30,000 starting up businesses that the bank has aided.

Silicon Valley Bank provides multiple services to private equity firms and venture capital that are focused on biotechnology and technology startups. There are also commercial banking clients that the business supports through venture capital and private equity. In total, the company has more than $21.6 billion in assets and more than 1,400 employees. In the San Jose, California region, the business has over $7.1 billion in deposits and ranks third in market share with about 8.11% market. For 30 years, the business has conducted transactions for the world’s most innovative companies. It has been strongly committed to increasing the success of innovative companies and make them compete in the global market.

The target industries of the company are the premium wine, software, hardware, cleantech, venture capital & private equity and those that thrive in the life science and healthcare. Their services include connection and research, valuations, funds management, credit, treasury management, international banking and private banking. The company is also known as the first bank to offer chip-enabled credit cards in the United States.