06 Feb 07. The chip industry on Friday hailed 2006 as the year of the consumer as it reported record global sales of semiconductors worth $247.7bn. The Semiconductor Industry Association said sales increased 8.9 per cent on the $227.5bn recorded in 2005. Worldwide sales in December rose 9 per cent to $21.7bn from the $20bn recorded a year earlier. “2006 was the year of the consumer in the electronics industry,” said George Scalise, SIA president. “Sales growth was largely driven by popular consumer products such as mobile phones, MP3 players and HD-TV sets – all products that have proliferated as semiconductor technology has enabled dramatically lower costs coupled with improved functionality.” Mr Scalise quoted the iSuppli research firm as reporting that the semiconductor content of electronic systems on a cost basis had increased steadily to be 21.6 per cent.
07 Feb 07. Deltek, the leading provider of enterprise management software for project-focused organisations, has announced total unaudited revenue exceeding $225m for its fiscal year ending 31 December 2006, an increase in excess of 50 percent over the previous year. License revenue increased approximately 70 percent over the prior year. Revenues from professional services and maintenance were also significantly higher on a comparative basis. This is the third consecutive year that Deltek’s growth has exceeded 20 percent. Deltek’s 2005 total revenue was $152m, a 25 percent increase over 2004.
02 Feb 07. American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) posted a quarterly net loss on Friday as it took charges for worker buyouts and idling U.S. manufacturing capacity for parts for mid-size light trucks. American Axle reported a net loss of $188.6m, or $3.74 per share, for its fourth quarter, compared with net income of $4.5m, or 9 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 8.4 percent to $781.1m. (Source: Reuters)
06 Feb 07. Cisco Systems Inc.’s profit rose 40% in its fiscal second quarter, driven by strong demand for Internet gear and data switches as well as the acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta. The San Jose, Calif., company, which makes the routers and switches that direct computer traffic over corporate networks and the Internet, posted net income of $1.92bn, or 31 cents a share, for the three months ended Jan. 27. A year ago, Cisco had earnings of $1.38bn, or 22 cents a share. (Source: WSJ)
02 Feb 07. Triton Group Holdings acquires Perry Slingsby Systems from Technip. On 2nd February 2007, Triton Group Holdings acquired Perry Slingsby Systems Ltd and Perry Slingsby Systems Inc (PSS) from Technip. The transfer and ownership of PSS to Triton Group Holdings takes immediate effect. Triton Group Holdings is a new entity, established specifically for this transaction with the principal shareholder being SCF Partners, a Houston based private equity company. The management of PSS are investors in Triton Group Holdings along with SCF and Martin Anderson takes up the appointment of Chief Executive Officer of Triton Group Holdings with immediate effect. Triton Group Holdings is headquartered in Aberdeen.
08 Feb 07. (NYSE: CGT; TSX: CAE) – CAE today reported financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2006. Net earnings were $29.7m ($0.12 per share) this quarter, compared to $17.4m ($0.07 per share) in the third quarter of last year. All financial information is in Canadian dollars. Net earnings from continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items(2), were $32.0m ($0.13 per share) this quarter, compared to $23.5m ($0.09 per share) in the same quarter of last year. Net earnings for the quarter were $29.7m, a 71% increase year over year. Consolidated revenue was $331.2m, $54.6m higher than the third quarter of 2006. Third-quarter consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were $44.2m, or 13.3% of revenue. This percentage is lower this quarter than in the second quarter due mainly to a higher than aver