February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Rodobo International, Inc. (OTCBB: RDBO) has closed its acquisition of three dairy companies in the People’s Republic of China. The company said that its daily processing capacity of raw milk is expected to increase from 200 tons per day to about 1,200 tons per day following the acquisition.
The company acquired the three firms through the mergers of Ewenkeqi Beixue Dairy Co, Ltd, Hulunbeier Beixue Dairy Co., Ltd, and Hulunbeier Hailaer Beixue Dairy Factory, which are collectively referred to as “Beixue Group,” into Rodobo’s wholly owned subsidiary Tengshun Technology and Development Co., Ltd.
Under equity transfer agreements entered into on February 5, Rodobo paid RMB2.1 million in cash and issued 10.6 million shares of the company’s common stock and two million shares of series A preferred stock in exchange for 100% of the equity interest in Beixue Group composed of Ewenkeqi Beixue, Hulunbeier Beixue and Hulunbeier Hailaer Beixue.
China-based Rodobo is a producer and distributor of powdered milk formula products in China.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — China Advanced Construction Materials Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CADC), a provider of ready-mix concrete in China, has appointed Jing Liu as an independent member of the company’s board. Liu will fill a vacancy on the board, which now consists of seven members.
Liu is currently a member of the board of directors of Southwest Securities Corp.. Previously, she was a member of the board of directors of Guotai Asset Management Ltd.. From 2005 to 2009, she was a senior manager, general manager of the equity capital, and general manager of strategic development for the investment banking department of China Jianyin Investment Ltd.
Beijing-based China Advanced Construction Materials provides materials and services through its six ready-mix concrete plant network covering Beijing metropolitan area.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Gaiam, Inc. (NASDAQ: GAIA), a producer of lifestyle media and fitness accessories, said it has inked a multi-year licensing agreement with Reebok to launch a new line of Reebok DVDs, fitness accessories, and workout kits.
The Reebok branded fitness DVDs are scheduled to launch in March 2010, with accessories following in summer and fall of 2010.
Massachusetts-based Reebok International is a worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, the company operates under the multiple divisions of the Reebok brand, Reebok-CCM Hockey and the Sports Licensed Division.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — More than 700 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 38, who work at the ConAgra (NYSE: CAG) facility in Milton, Pennsylvania have ratified a new, three-year agreement contract with their employer.
According to the union, the deal includes wage increases that average $1.87 per hour over the three-year-agreement and improved retirement security pension, among other provisions.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Mac-Gray Corp. (NYSE: TUC), a provider of laundry facilities management services to multi-unit housing locations, said it has sold its MicroFridge business to Danby Products, an appliance marketing firm.
The transaction is valued by Mac-Gray at around $11.5 million. Under the deal, Danby paid Mac-Gray $8.5 million in cash, and assumed existing liabilities and financial obligations for MicroFridge totaling around $3 million.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Libbey Inc.’s (AMEX: LBY) Libbey Glass Inc. unit has completed a private placement of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due 2015).
Libbey Glass used the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repurchase its existing $306 million Floating Rate Senior Secured notes due 2011 in a previously announced tender offer,
[...continued]
United Technologies Corp.’s (NYSE: UTX) board of directors has approved a 10.4 percent increase in its first quarter dividend to 42.5 cents per common share. The dividend is payable March 10 to shareowners of record at the close of business February 19.
The ex-dividend date is February 17.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Jack Henry & Associates‘ (NASDAQ: JKHY) board of directors has increased the company’s quarterly cash dividend by 12 percent to $.095 per share.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Manitex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTX), a maker of specialized vehicles, said it has received three orders valued at $4 million for shipment during the first half of 2010.
[...continued]
February 9, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Rodobo International, Inc. (OTCBB: RDBO) has closed its acquisition of three dairy companies in the People’s Republic of China. The company said that its daily processing capacity of raw milk is expected to increase from 200 tons per day to about 1,200 tons per day following the acquisition.
FirstAlert(tm) Daily 2/9: iShrug
- Market Commentary -
Like many people I was nonplussed by the iPad. But I was also disturbed as hell by that reaction. After all, the economy remains in the doldrums, and no one seems to have a handle on fixing it. But Apple has consistently provided a gleaming ray of hope in this gloom: here was a company that seemed to GET IT, no matter how dark the times were.
With the iPhone, and the new Macs, Apple grew and prospered and helped to remind us that life, and innovation and success would go on.
We were ready for more when Steve Jobs took to the stage at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show – amid much hype — to give us… the iPad. The device was immediately famous around the world. Awareness of its features, price and design grew at lightning speed. But then came the global shrug.
According to Sci-Tech Today’s Adam Dickter, “Surveys by Retrevo Pulse and ChangeWave found market awareness but few people who plan to buy an iPad.”
Retrevo Pulse’s survey of 1,000 people found that, in the days immediately following the launch, awareness of the iPad grew, but “the number of those who knew about it but were not interested doubled from 26 percent to 52 percent.”
[...continued]