Baltimore and International Business

[Itus]

AAI Corp. wins $34M Swedish military contract
Baltimore Business Journal - by Ryan Sharrow Staff

AAI Corp. has been awarded a $34.1 million contract from Saab AB to provide unmanned aircrafts to the Swedish Armed Forces.

Hunt Valley-based AAI will provide two Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft units and additional services under the contract. Saab conducted the competition for the award on behalf of the Swedish Ministry of Defense.

AAI, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), has been the U.S. Army’s prime contractor for unmanned aircraft since 1999.

A single Shadow system includes four aircraft, ground data terminals, remote video terminals, a portable ground control station; and associated components and support equipment.

AAI, one of the largest defense contractors in the region, employs 1,500 at its Baltimore County facility.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...l?surround=lfn

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Monday, July 26, 2010, 11:06am EDT
Baltimore’s exports totaled $9B in 2008
Baltimore Business Journal

Baltimore is in the top third of 100 metro areas for exports, but its recent export growth has been below average, according to Brookings Institution.

The liberal think tank’s report published Monday said Baltimore produced $8.95 billion billion in exports in 2008, ranking No. 31 in the nation. Average wages in the largest export industry, chemicals, were $70,965, $4,500 above the national average. In terms of jobs, 74,032 jobs support Baltimore's export industry, ranking 30th.

Baltimore ranked low, 92nd, exporting only 6.8 percent of what was produced locally in the overall local economy was exported.

Baltimore’s major export industries are chemical manufacturing, business, professional and technical services, tourism, computer and electronic product manufacturing and machinery manufacturing.

The area’s top exports markets were Canada ($1.3 billion), Mexico ($700 million), UK ($678 million), Japan ($596 million) and Germany ($431 million).

In its report -- “Export Nation: How U.S. Metros Lead National Export Growth and Boost Competitiveness” -- Brookings Institution said America can and must produce more goods and services for global markets for its prosperity and security.

U.S. exports already support 11.8 million jobs nationally, 7.7 million of which are in the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Demand from outside the U.S. continues to increase much faster than demand inside the country, promising more job creation in future years, the report noted.

“True economic recovery and job growth in America will depend on substantial growth in the amount of goods and services we sell to other nations,” said Bruce Katz, director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, in a statement. “Metropolitan areas already lead the nation in export production, and they will be the vanguard of export growth in the years to come.”

http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/bal...l?surround=lfn

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Monday, July 26, 2010, 1:46pm EDT
T. Rowe Price expands Australian office
Baltimore Business Journal - by Ryan Sharrow Staff

T. Rowe Price Group Inc. is widening its presence overseas, adding investment management and research capabilities in its Sydney, Australia, office.

The Baltimore money manager has operated a Sydney office since 2004, offering institutional sales and client services.

T. Rowe (NASDAQ: TROW) has tapped Randal Jenneke, an Australian industry veteran, to oversee and build its local equity team with the hiring of additional analysts.

“T. Rowe Price has long identified Australia as an important strategic market for the firm,” T. Rowe International CEO Chris Alderson said in a statement. “Now is the right time to extend our investment presence to enhance and leverage the T. Rowe Price global research platform locally.”

T. Rowe expanded its international efforts late last year by acquiring a 26 percent stake in UTI Asset Management Co. Ltd. and UTI Trustee Co. Pvt. Ltd for approximately $138 million.

UTI is the fourth largest asset manager in India with $17.2 billion in assets under management and a 10.1 percent share of India’s mutual fund market.

rsharrow@bizjournals.com or (410) 454-0537.
Twitter.com/rsharrow


http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/bal...l?surround=lfn

[k25150]

Not sure #31 is such a great ranking being we are the 20th or 2nd largest metro area.

[Itus]

Originally Posted by k25150

Not sure #31 is such a great ranking being we are the 20th or 2nd largest metro area.

I'm not quite sure what we produce to export...

[Jkosmides]

Originally Posted by Itus

I'm not quite sure what we produce to export...

The Wire DVD box sets. EVERYone in I met on a recent trip to London and Spain knew of the show. It was also for sale everywhere.

But no, in all seriousness we're a service based city. Can't export medical services unless you count foreigners coming in for surgery at hopkins.

Wonder what impact Hopkin's International MBA starting up in the fall will have on Baltimore and international business in the area.

"Of the 80-plus students in the charter class, about a third are women. The students range in age from early 20s to early 40s, and their professional experience ranges from zero to 15 years. The countries from which they hail include the United States, Canada, Ghana, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia."

[Itus]

Originally Posted by Jkosmides

Wonder what impact Hopkin's International MBA starting up in the fall will have on Baltimore and international business in the area.

"Of the 80-plus students in the charter class, about a third are women. The students range in age from early 20s to early 40s, and their professional experience ranges from zero to 15 years. The countries from which they hail include the United States, Canada, Ghana, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia."

hehe. I do know that Brits love the Wire.

I'm really eager to see where the Hopkins MBA program will take us now too. If the school develops a really strong reputation with the international community, I'd hope the foreign students who come here to study will actually start to conduct business here as well.
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Carey Business School’s first global MBA class takes shape

July 6, 2010
By Patrick Ercolano
Carey Business School


Jack Hirsch, who was born in Israel and has lived in the Africa and the United States, at a spring information session for accepted students.

When Johns Hopkins University launched a business school in 2007, the smart money reckoned on an entirely new kind of MBA program. The designers of the program then went to work and proved the wisdom of the smart money.

In the Johns Hopkins traditions of service and international outreach, the program was created so that it would focus not on how to make a killing on Wall Street but on how to cultivate business practices to help heal a troubled world. Now, JHU’s Carey Business School is about to welcome the charter class in its signature full-time, two-year program, the Johns Hopkins Global MBA.

The group of slightly more than the target number of 80 charter-class students will arrive at the school’s new Harbor East campus in early August for the start of a three-week orientation session.

As Yash Gupta, dean of the Carey School, notes, “The incoming students fit the mold of the Johns Hopkins scholar—a dedicated, self-motivated, creative thinker and problem solver.”

For the Global MBA class, Gupta says, Carey sought “students of striking diversity and backgrounds not usually seen at business schools.”

Deasy Priadi is an example. The native of Indonesia has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and works for the World Bank in Jakarta. “Growing up in Indonesia, where many people live on less than $2 per day, has informed my future goals,” she says.

Key among those goals, she says, is improving the lives of the poor. She aims to turn some family-owned land in West Java into a model farm that would demonstrate the best agricultural methods and best treatment of farm workers in a nation that sometimes lacks these elements. “Business can create jobs and reduce poverty in the long run,” Priadi says.

Another member of the Global MBA charter class, Shahd AlShehail, recently worked as director of operations at Al Qadem Fashion House in her native Saudi Arabia, where she initiated a project to promote the work of women artisans. She says that she wants to become a “social entrepreneur,” and that her professional goals include challenging the accepted belief in her home country that women belong strictly in the household.

Student Jack Hirsch was born in Israel and has lived in Africa and the United States. Befitting someone so well-traveled, he says he was drawn to the international orientation of the Global MBA program, which, in the intersession of year one, will send students on an overseas project, Innovation for Humanity, in which they will work on a business problem within a community in a developing nation.

Hirsch’s professional career has been marked by experiences with start-up ventures whose “dynamic environments” have proved excellent laboratories of learning, he says, adding that he sees this same “enterprising spirit” in the Carey School.

Of the 80-plus students in the charter class, about a third are women. The students range in age from early 20s to early 40s, and their professional experience ranges from zero to 15 years. The countries from which they hail include the United States, Canada, Ghana, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia.

Fifteen of the students in the class have master’s degrees in fields such as engineering, public health, biotechnology and social work. Those who did not previously pursue post-graduate studies have bachelor’s degrees in areas that include psychology, sociology, biology, nursing, physics and computer science.

Among the universities they attended are Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, Chicago, Cornell, Harvard, Michigan, Northwestern, Oxford and the London School of Economics.

http://gazette.jhu.edu/2010/07/06/ca...s-takes-shape/

[Itus]

FTI Consulting to Acquire FS Asia Advisory Limited

- Formerly Operated as Ferrier Hodgson Hong Kong Group - Acquisition Increases FTI's Asian Presence in Hong Kong, China and the Philippines - Extends Corporate Finance, Restructuring and Transaction Advisory Service Offerings in Asia

HONG KONG and WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 4 -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN) , the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, today announced that it has reached agreement in principle to acquire FS Asia Advisory Limited (formerly Ferrier Hodgson Hong Kong Group). This acquisition is intended to significantly expand FTI's presence and breadth of capabilities in Asia.

The acquisition is subject to completion of definitive documentation and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in August.

Founded in 1985 and with operations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Manila, FS Asia Advisory is a leading provider of corporate finance, restructuring and turnaround, corporate advisory and corporate recovery services in Asia. In 2009, FS generated total revenues of approximately $35 million and will add approximately 130 professionals to FTI in Asia. FS will operate as FTI Consulting.

Commenting on the acquisition, Jack Dunn, FTI's President and CEO, said, "This acquisition is further progress in our strategy to deploy our full range of services in all major global markets and is a major step for us in Asia, a key region of interest for us and our clients. The acquisition augments our existing corporate finance, transaction advisory, restructuring, investigations and strategic communications practices in Asia, and gives us critical mass in one of the most dynamic regions in the world."

Mr. Dunn continued, "FS is the premier restructuring specialist firm in the region with a long operating history, solid growth prospects and strong profitability. The FS team has a roster of world-class clients, many of whom we already serve in other regions, and is renowned for its professionalism and hands on approach to tackling complex business problems. I have every confidence that this exceptional group of professionals will enhance our capabilities to advise our clients as they extend their business interests into this exciting and complex market."

Rod Sutton, the practice leader of FS Asia Advisory, said, "We are all very excited by the opportunity to join FTI and its outstanding team of professionals, particularly the existing Hong Kong practices. We look forward to working closely with Steve Vickers, Rob Morris and the other excellent client service personnel and believe the combination will allow us to better serve clients throughout the region. This combination will extend our network to the US and the European markets and will augment our capability to offer a number of services to our clients, such as transaction advisory, valuation, FCPA and other ancillary advisory services that are in demand in the market. Based on an established presence in the region of over 25 years, our Asian-based team has built up a strong client and referral network and an outstanding reputation. This opportunity will allow us to offer our existing and new clients the combined strength of FTI's worldwide resources and our depth of experience and industry knowledge in Asia."

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With approximately 3,400 employees located in most major business centers in the world, we work closely with clients every day to anticipate, illuminate, and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management and restructuring. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

http://baltimore.citybizlist.com/you....aspx?id=88226

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Grace expands Asian presence with manufacturing site in China
By Andrea K. Walker, The Baltimore Sun

11:40 a.m. EDT, August 13, 2010

Chemical company W.R. Grace & Co. said Friday it has opened a new manufacturing facility in China as part of its efforts to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.

The facility, in the city of Chongqing, will manufacture cement additives and concrete admixtures. It will also have a quality-control lab and administrative and personnel offices.

The additives are used by cement producers to improve grinding efficiency and enhance the quality of cement. They are also more environmentally friendly, reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

Admixtures improve the quality, strength, durability and appearance of concrete.
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Expanding into emerging markets has become a key part of Columbia-based Grace's business strategy. Company executives recently said that one-third of its sales come from emerging regions, including China.

Emerging markets are growing two-and-a-half times as fast as developed regions, and the portion of the company's overall spending on global construction is expected to increase from 37 percent to 45 percent by 2020.

These new markets are rapidly expanding their urban cores, creating new opportunities for Grace. Rising building standards that require sturdier and safer construction practices in these countries are also a factor.

Grace has also recently announced a joint venture in Saudi Arabia, where it has begun manufacturing operations.

The company has four other manufacturing facilities in China — in Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It also operates a research and development center in Beijing.

The company said that in 1986 it became the first foreign-owned enterprise allowed to conduct business in China when it opened a can sealant manufacturing facility near Shanghai.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business...,5155404.story

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MERKLE EXPANDS INTO CHINA TO SUPPORT GROWING BASE OF MULTINATIONAL CLIENTS

New Shanghai Office Represents Company's First Overseas Location and Rapid Growth

Columbia, Md.- September 15, 2010 Merkle (www.merkleinc.com), the nation's largest and fastest growing independent customer relationship marketing agency, announced that it has opened its first international office in Shanghai, China. Strategically located within Shanghai's thriving financial and business district of Pudong, Merkle's new location can initially house 75 employees, with the capacity to expand as Merkle's global business continues to grow.

The Shanghai office will extend Merkle's current capabilities and competitive position by providing analytics and technology operations resources on a global scale. In turn, this will help drive growth and new opportunities for Merkle in the U.S. and around the world. Raymond Wu, a six-year Merkle veteran, leads this office along with three other managers and 25 employees. Merkle is supporting five of its U.S.-based clients from this office, including support of Dell's regional and global Consumer CRM operations.

Merkle Chairman and CEO David Williams said, "Establishing a presence in Shanghai is a pivotal moment in Merkle's history. Our expansion into China complements our pattern of rapid growth here in the U.S. During the past year, we have increased our breadth of services, added many world-class brands to our client portfolio, and hired talented staff at Merkle locations across the country. Merkle's Asia expansion is the next step in the growth process and enables us to better support the global needs of our clients."

Merkle Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Zhengda "Z" Shen said, "Merkle's expansion enables us to support a growing number of multinational clients within today's global climate. The new location will enable us to provide analytics and technology operations capabilities that advance our clients' initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as support offshore outsourcing for multinational corporations. We are very excited about this expansion and believe this will provide greater opportunities for our clients and employees.

About Merkle

Merkle is the nation's largest and fastest growing independent customer relationship marketing agency. For more than 20 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. By combining a complete range of marketing, technical, analytical and creative disciplines, Merkle works with clients to design, execute and evaluate Integrated Customer MarketingTM programs. With more than 1,000 employees, the privately held corporation is headquartered near Baltimore in Columbia, Maryland with additional offices in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Little Rock, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Hagerstown, Md., and Shanghai. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-Merkle or visit www.merkleinc.com.

http://www.merkleinc.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=1160

[Itus]

Thursday, September 23, 2010, 1:23pm EDT
Colfax Corp. to set up HQ in Maple Lawn
Baltimore Business Journal - by Ryan Sharrow Staff

Colfax Corp. will move its corporate headquarters to the massive Maple Lawn development in Howard County this January.

The Richmond, Va., publicly traded maker of pumps for the oil and gas industry, said Wednesday it would relocate to the region but did not immediately say where it was taking office space.

Mitzi Reynolds, Colfax’s vice president of investor relations, said Thursday the company inked a deal for 7,400 square feet at 8170 Maple Lawn Blvd. in Fulton. Reynolds said the company has 20 employees at its Richmond office and expects to have the same number of employees in Fulton.

The 600-acre mixed-used project, being developed in phases by Pikesville’s Greenebaum and Rose Associates Inc., boasts office space, homes and retail, including a Harris Teeter grocery store.

In a statement, Colfax CEO Clay Kiefaber said relocating to the Baltimore-Washington region will provide “improved access to international travel and to our key advisors in the immediate area and the Northeast.”

Colfax (NYSE: CFX) makes a range of fluid-handling products including pumps and valves used in heavy industry. Around 75 percent of the company’s business is done internationally.

rsharrow@bizjournals.com or (410) 454-0537.
Twitter.com/rsharrow

[emphasis added]

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...l?surround=lfn

[Itus]

W.R. Grace expands Vietnam operations
Baltimore Business Journal - by Joanna Sullivan
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 11:45am EDT

W.R. Grace & Co.’s construction products group officially opened a new manufacturing plant Wednesday in Hanoi, Vietnam, expanding the Columbia chemical company’s presence in the Southeast Asian nation.

The Hai Duong plant will make cement additives and concrete admixtures for Grace Construction Products. The additives and admixtures are supposed to help improve the quality of cement made in Vietnam. The plant’s goal is to improve service and delivery times to customers in North and Central Vietnam, company officials said.

Andrew Bonham, president of Grace Construction, said the 30,000-square-foot plant marks W.R. Grace’s (NY:GRA) latest investment in emerging markets. It also opened plants in Chongqing, China and Sammam, Saudi Arabia this year.

. . . .

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...perations.html

[Itus]

Johns Hopkins to develop medical school, hospital in Malaysia
Baltimore Business Journal - by Ryan Sharrow
Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 10:09am EDT

Johns Hopkins inked a deal today to develop a medical school and teaching hospital in Malaysia, marking the Baltimore institution’s latest push to expand internationally.

Hopkins will partner on the project with Academic Medical Centre Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Chase Perdana Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian private development corporation.

Under the deal, Hopkins will assist with medical education programs, campus design and facilities planning, and clinical affairs.

The 600-bed teaching hospital will include ambulatory care facilities, diagnostic capabilities and ancillary support services. In addition, Hopkins will advise on the development of research programs. The operations of the campus will be managed in line with the Johns Hopkins Medicine operational model.

Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI), the international arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine, will all work on the development.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin Bin Mohd Yassin observed the signing Tuesday.

Hopkins has partnerships in the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...p-medical.html

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W.R. Grace buys Chinese waterproofing products company
Baltimore Business Journal - by Gary Haber
Date: Monday, November 8, 2010, 11:40am EST

W.R. Grace & Co. has bought a Chinese manufacturer of waterproofing products, the Columbia company said Monday.

Grace’s acquisition of Wuhan Meilixin New Building Materials Co. Ltd. will give Grace (NYSE: GRA) additional manufacturing capability in China and a distribution network that reaches customers in China, Southeast Asia, the Americas and Europe. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This acquisition continues the series of strategic investments we have made in international markets that positions us to capitalize on emerging economies and global infrastructure spending growth,” said Andrew Bonham, president of Grace Construction Products.

The Wuhan Meilixin deal is part of Grace’s expansion in Asia. On Oct. 20, Grace announced it opened a 30,000-square-foot plant in Hanoi, Vietnam, to make additives used in manufacturing cement.

Here's a copy of the company's news release:

Grace Acquires Wuhan Meilixin New Building Materials Co., Ltd. in China

W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) today announced the purchase of the business and assets of Wuhan Meilixin New Building Materials Co., Ltd. (Meilixin), a manufacturer of waterproofing products located in China. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“The Grace Construction Products name is synonymous with high-quality and we are excited to begin working with our new colleagues to produce innovative products for increasingly demanding projects.”

Meilixin has manufacturing facilities for the production of customizable, fit-for-use waterproofing membranes, materials and compounds, as well as administrative offices and warehousing operations in Wuhan, the modern capital of the Hubei province located in Central China. There are around 50 employees at the facilities.

Meilixin’s products include multilayer macromolecule compound membranes, self-adhesive rubber membranes, cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing materials and macromolecule compound coatings. The products help protect structures from the damaging effects of water. In addition to being sold in China, the products have been exported to Southeast Asia, America, Europe and other regions of the world.

“This acquisition continues the series of strategic investments we have made in international markets that positions us to capitalize on emerging economies and global infrastructure spending growth,” remarked Andrew Bonham, President, Grace Construction Products. “We are excited to welcome Meilixin to Grace, and we will continue to identify similar opportunities to expand our footprint and elevate our brand recognition.”

Philip Krichilsky, Vice President and General Manager, Grace Construction Products - Asia Pacific, commented, “By acquiring Meilixin, we expand our manufacturing capabilities and gain an established distribution network to meet the needs of construction customers in the fast growing Chinese market, as well as other emerging markets.”

Meilixin has obtained internationally recognized certifications for its quality management (ISO 9001:2000) and environmental management (ISO 14000:2004) systems that provide the framework for the company to maintain product quality and sustainability.

Meilixin Founder and General Manager Yu Nianxu said, “The Grace Construction Products name is synonymous with high-quality and we are excited to begin working with our new colleagues to produce innovative products for increasingly demanding projects.” Mr. Yu has joined Grace in the newly created position of General Manager, China Waterproofing.

The Meilixin business will be integrated into Grace Construction Products’ Specialty Building Materials product group and operate through Grace’s Chinese subsidiary, Grace China Ltd.
About Grace Construction Products

Grace Construction Products is a world-leading provider of construction chemicals and building materials that have been used to enhance the durability, strength and appearance of structures all over the world. Products include technically superior concrete admixtures, fibers, surface treatments and liquid pigments, additives for cement processing, and fire protection, waterproofing and masonry products. More information is available at www.graceconstruction.com.
About Grace

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace’s web site at www.grace.com.

ghaber@bizjournals.com or (410) 454-0519.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...rproofing.html

[Itus]

Just scrolling through this page, there does seem to be a lot of activity in China by companies based in the area.

[LilMoeJoeJoe]

Port of Baltimore cargo shipments rebound
Baltimore Business Journal - by Scott Dance , Staff
Date: Monday, December 20, 2010, 11:41am EST .Enlarge Image

The Port of Baltimore saw general cargo levels up 12 percent as of November.
. .Further Reading
Port of Baltimore cargo drops 2 percent
Port of Baltimore sets record for number of cars in a month
U.S.-South Korea deal may bolster Port of Baltimore
.Related News
Md. businesses win thousands in export grants
Vanda Pharmaceuticals chairman steps down
Deadlines to send Xmas packages near
Cirque du Soleil coming back to Baltimore
.An influx in cars and forest products helped push Port of Baltimore’s key cargo statistics up 15 percent in November compared to the same time last year.

General cargo, which includes containers, automobiles, forest products and roll-on/roll-off cargo, totaled 753,000 tons last month. That was up from 653,000 tons in November 2009, according to a port release.

For the first 11 months of 2010, general cargo at the state-owned port terminals was up 12 percent over 2009.

The numbers show a rebounding from a recessionary slump in 2009. In fiscal year 2010, which ran from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, overall cargo fell 2 percent to 9.1 million tons, from 9.3 million tons the previous fiscal year. That was weighed by drops of more than one-fourth in paper products and roll-on/roll-off cargo.

The auto business has been on a rebound, setting a record for monthly totals in October. And a recent U.S. trade deal with South Korea has port officials in Baltimore looking forward to future opportunities for growth.
..

Read more: Port of Baltimore cargo shipments rebound | Baltimore Business Journal

[Itus]

December 21, 2010

Dutch company offers $1.1 billion for Columbia-based Martek Biosciences

Royal DSM N.V., a Dutch life and materials sciences company, today made a $1.1 billion cash offer for Martek Biosciences Corp. of Columbia in a deal that represents a 35 percent premium over its stock.

Board members from both companies have approved the acquisition of Martek, a company that was founded in Maryland 25 years ago by a group of scientists who spun off from the Martin Marietta Corp.

The purchase is based on a 35 percent premium of Martek's closing price of $23.36 on Monday. Royal DSM said it would pay $31.50 per share for the company. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of next year.

Martek is a leading provider of infant nutritional supplements and has recently begun expanding the scope of its additives to other categories of products, such as dietary supplements and salad and sub dressings at the Quizno's restaurant chain.

The company produces docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, from algal sources, which has been approved for use in infant formula by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The additive is found in about 99 percent of infant formula in the U.S., Martek claims.


Posted by Gus Sentementes at 8:59 AM

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news...11_billio.html

Full article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business...,1164827.story

[Itus]

Arinc expands communications network serving S. Korea airports
Baltimore Business Journal - by Gary Haber , Staff
Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 11:27am EST

Arinc Inc., an Annapolis transportation communications company, has expanded its network of remote ground stations serving airports in South Korea.

The stations are used for transmitting in-flight data between airplanes and airline operations centers, including an aircraft’s location, using Arinc’s GlobaLink VHF network.

Arinc deployed a total of four ground stations. Two cover Cheongju International and Yeosu International airports. Another two supplement existing coverage at Gimpo International and Incheon International airports.

Arinc now has a total of more than 150 remote ground stations in the Asia-Pacific region, including 11 in South Korea.

Below is Arinc's statement about the new business released Tuesday.

---
ARINC Adds Four New Ground Stations, Expands GLOBALinkSM Network in South Korea Singapore, December 28, 2010—ARINC Incorporated today announced it has deployed four new remote ground stations to enhance the coverage of its GLOBALinkSM/VHF data link network for aviation in South Korea. ARINC recently deployed two new ground stations to provide GLOBALink/VHF coverage at Cheongju International and Yeosu International Airports. The company also deployed two auxiliary ground stations to enhance existing GLOBALink coverage at Gimpo International and Incheon International Airports. The station deployments were accomplished with the support of two ARINC Asia Pacific GLOBALink partners, South Korea’s AirMedia, and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI). The expansion brings ARINC’s South Korean network to a total of eleven ground stations. The new stations will provide domestic and international carriers such as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines with faster and more reliable operational messaging. This will enhance in-flight data transfer and communications between airline operations centers and flight decks, and among carriers. Airlines arriving and departing from South Korea will benefit from more accurate reporting of aircraft movements and status, while congestion on voice radio channels can be reduced. “The deployment of additional GLOBALink/VHF ground stations in South Korea will enable increased efficiency and safety for the airlines,” stated Jim L. Martin, —MORE— ARINC Asia Pacific Managing Director. “This deployment marks a significant milestone in our GLOBALink expansion plan for the region.” Mr. S. M. Kim, Airmedia’s President & CEO, said, “We are committed to working with ARINC in promoting data link solutions in South Korea, by assisting with the management of remote ground stations here. Adding these new stations to the existing GLOBALink coverage will significantly boost network connectivity in the country.” “We are delighted with the opportunity to enhance the serviceability and coverage of GLOBALink in the region with ARINC and AirMedia,” said Mr. Channarong Chaucharoen, Vice President (Business Development), AEROTHAI. “We deployed our first remote ground station in South Korea in April of 2000, and since then have grown to 11 RGS with the new installations. We look forward to expanding our coverage and support to South Korea moving forward,” he further added. ARINC’s network of 11 GLOBALink/VHF ground stations in South Korea covers most of the country’s major international airports including Jeju Island. To date, ARINC’s Asia Pacific operations have successfully deployed more than 150 VHF Data Link ground stations in 12 countries of the region. Data link enables air crews to exchange information with ground crews and airline host systems anywhere in the world without the limitations of voice radio. Data link improves flight deck processes and increases efficiency with clear, accurate, and unambiguous messages delivered directly to the crew via either a cockpit display or a printer. Because data link also stores messages, flight crews can review and verify all operational instructions for enhanced safety. ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified. For more information, visit the web site at www.arinc.com.
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ghaber@bizjournals.com or (410) 454-0519

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...s-network.html

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Baltimore-based Metastorm to be sold for $182 million

6:13 p.m. EST, February 2, 2011

A Canadian company said Wednesday it struck a deal to buy Metastorm Inc., a Baltimore-based provider of business software to government and commercial clients all over the world, for $182 million in cash.

Open Text Corp., based in Waterloo, Ontario, makes management software for thousands of commercial and government customers. The company said it was buying Metastorm, which makes business process analysis and management software, for its "complementary technology and expertise," according to a news release.

The transaction is expected to close by March 31.

Gus.sentementes@baltsun.com

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business...,6125985.story

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Md. woos business in the Balkans
Baltimore Business Journal - by Daniel J. Sernovitz, Staff
Date: Friday, February 11, 2011, 1:49pm EST

Baltimore will play host to Western Balkan business officials next month in a summit designed to increase trade and investment opportunities between them and Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development it will hold a US-Balkans Business Summit at the University of Baltimore March 23 and 24.

The idea, DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson said, is to create stronger ties and open foreign markets to Maryland businesses and their Balkan counterparts.

“With the European Union expanding east and south, the Western Balkans are poised to be a major center of global commerce and investment in the 21st century,” Johansson said in a statement. “Maryland is pleased to host this historic event, which will help foster an important international dialogue about the tremendous opportunities for trade and investment between the U.S. and Balkan countries.”

Dignitaries slated to attend the session include Bakir Izetbegovic, president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Filip Vujanovic, president of Montenegro, and Mikola Gruevski, prime minister of Macedonia. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Robert Hunter, and former U.S. Congresswoman Helen Bentley will also take part in the session, information on which can be found at www.usbalkanssummit.com.

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