Re: AMMRL: Agilent Technologies to Close Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Business

From: Mair, Ross <rmair_at_fas.harvard.edu>
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 02:46:25 +0000

I’m no authority, but as (possibly the only) former NMR spectroscopist now working at an MRI Center…..

The basic news about their MRI businesses was further down in the press release.

Agilent decided to exit the speciality magnet and human MRI magnet business (aka Magnex) in early 2013. The ISMRM community went into uproar, as Agilent was (at that time) the only supplier of 7T human MRI magnets. The ISMRM leadership even got a telecon with Agilent senior management. Agilent claimed the cost of superconducting materials for the magnet wire had skyrocketed more than helium; and as such each human MRI magnet was now made at a loss. They also said they tried to sell off the business, but couldn’t find a buyer, and determined the market could not bear a doubling of the cost of such magnets (which was their metric for the business to be profitable). At ISMRM this year, Siemens announced they would extend their Siemens Magnet Technology site in Oxford (previously acquired from Oxford Instruments) to start production of 7T magnets alongside their 3T magnets produced there, presumably absorbing a lot of the Magnex/Agilent folks. GE also announced they would begin production of their own 7T magnets.

I hadn’t heard what happened to Agilent's small-bore/animal MRI business, but that was expected to disappear before the NMR spectroscopy side. I guess it did - although I didn’t notice any fanfare - but Agilent was completely absent from this year’s ISMRM as an exhibitor. Bruker had been the #1 in that market by an enormous margin for a number of years, even before the Agilent purchase.

Ross



--
Ross Mair
Head of MR Physics
Center for Brain Science
Harvard University
52 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
USA
Phone: +1-617-496-2903
Fax:   +1-617-496-9385
email: rmair_at_fas.harvard.edu
On Oct 14, 2014, at 4:57 PM, Charles G. Fry <fry_at_chem.wisc.edu> wrote:
> I am wondering if anyone knows what Agilent is doing with the MRI part of the company.  From the announcement, perhaps they are keeping that portion?  But can someone say more definitely what is happening there?
> 
> Charlie
> 
> 
> On 10/14/2014 2:22 PM, Fishbein, Kenneth (NIH/NIA/IRP) [E] wrote:
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Pierre Audet [mailto:Pierre.Audet_at_chm.ulaval.ca]
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 1:35 PM
>> To: ammrl_at_ammrl.org
>> Subject: AMMRL: Agilent Technologies to Close Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Business
>> 
>> Is that true ?  See below !
>> 
>> ------
>> Pierre Audet, Chimiste
>> Spécialiste résonance magnétique et spectrométrie de masse Département de chimie Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon
>> 1045 Avenue de la Médecine
>> Université Laval (Québec)
>> CANADA  G1V 0A6
>> Tél: (418) 656-2131 x4296
>> Fax: (418) 656-7916
>> Skype: pierre.m.audet
>> 
>> 
>> http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2014/14oct-gp14028.html
>> 
>> Agilent Technologies to Close Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Business
>> 
>> SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 14, 2014
>> 
>> Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it is exiting its Nuclear Magnetic Resonance business. Agilent entered the NMR business in 2010, with the acquisition of Varian. Since then, the business has not met growth and profitability objectives.
>> 
>> "Today's announcement represents a difficult decision necessary to drive improved profitability," said Mike McMullen, president and chief operating officer, and CEO-elect. "The NMR team has been extremely dedicated and has made many excellent contributions. However, this action is a step in ensuring that our investments are placed on higher-value life sciences, applied markets and diagnostics solutions that will continue to drive growth across the company."
>> 
>> Agilent will stop taking new NMR system orders immediately, but the company will continue to meet customer commitments for orders in progress and for ongoing support contracts. Agilent will continue to provide service on all installed NMR systems.
>> 
>> The company expects that this decision will eliminate about 300 jobs, mostly within the next 12 months. The majority of the affected positions are located in Yarnton, U.K., and Santa Clara, California.
>> 
>> Today's announcement is part of Agilent's strategy to address the business shortfalls of its Research Products Division. In early 2013 Agilent announced its exit of the OEM and Specialty Magnet business and later the MRI business to focus resources on the core NMR portfolio. Despite these adjustments, the NMR business has continued to fall short of growth and profitability objectives.
>> 
>> To cover the cost of exiting this business, Agilent will take an approximate $72 million restructuring charge in the fourth quarter. It expects a $20 million to $30 million decline in revenues in fiscal year 2015 due to the NMR business closure, but a positive impact of about $10 million in operating profit in FY15.
>> 
>> For the fourth quarter of 2014, Agilent anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.87 to $0.91, and projects revenues to be negatively affected by currency at about $13 million, and lower NMR-related revenues by about $12 million.
>> 
>> Keysight has posted its investor roadshow slide deck on its website at www.investor.keysight.com. "New Agilent" will post its investor roadshow slide deck on Friday, Oct. 17, after the market closes at www.investor.agilent.com.
>> 
>> About NMR
>> 
>> Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an analytical chemistry technique used in quality control and research for determining the content and purity of a sample as well as its molecular structure. It is used primarily in academia and government, the pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical industries.
>> 
>> About Agilent Technologies
>> Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company's 20,600 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.8 billion in fiscal 2013. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
>> 
>> On Sept. 19, 2013, Agilent announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff of its electronic measurement business. The new company is named Keysight Technologies, Inc. The separation is expected to be completed in early November 2014.
>> 
>> Forward-Looking Statements
>> 
>> This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, information regarding the separation of Agilent's electronic measurement business; future revenues, earnings and profitability; the future demand for the company's products and services; and customer expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Agilent's results to differ materially from management's current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, unforeseen changes in the strength of our customers' businesses; unforeseen changes in the demand for current and new products, technologies, and services; customer purchasing decisions and timing, and the risk that we are not able to realize the savings expected from integration and restructuring activities.
>> 
>> In addition, other risks that Agilent faces include those detailed in Agilent's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our latest Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Agilent's management and on currently available information. Agilent undertakes no responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.
>> 
>> # # #
>> 
>> Contact:
>> 
>> Michele Drake
>> +1 408 345 8396
>> michele_drake_at_agilent.com
>> 
>> Neil Rees (U.K.)
>> +44 186 529 1472
>> neil_rees_at_agilent.com
>> 
>> Investor Contact:
>> 
>> Alicia Rodriguez
>> +1 408 345 8948
>> alicia_rodriguez_at_agilent.com
>> 
> 
> -- 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Charles G. Fry, Ph.D.              Tel:  (608)262-3182
> Director, MR Facility              Fax:  (608)262-0381
> Chem. Dept., 1101 University Ave, Univ. Wisconsin-Madison
> Madison, WI  53706  USA        email:  fry_at_chem.wisc.edu
> 
> 
Received on Tue Oct 14 2014 - 16:46:28 MST

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