Synovis completes sale of business to Heraeus Vadnais.
Synovis Life Technologies Inc said it has now closed the sale of virtually all the assets of its interventional business to Heraeus Vadnais. Chief Executive Officer of Synovis, Richard Kramp, said this sale was part of the company's strategy to focus on the soft tissue repair and...

Swiss dental implant firm Straumann buys Czech distributor.
Dental implant specialist Straumann said it has acquired the Czech distributor of its products Ormedent spol sro. This furthers the Swiss company's strategy to gain direct access to customers in what it terms "an attractive emerging market in Eastern Europe." The purchase price was not disclosed. ...

Scient'x buys back licence for Isobar spinal rod implant.
French company Scient'x SA said it agreed to buy back the dynamic rod licence, trademarked Isobar, from Alphatec Spine Inc. The company's aim in this transaction is to establish it as the sole distributor of the Isobar dynamic rod as part of the overall strategy of building...

Using strategy: the evolution of a medical practice.
As the managing partner of an eight provider primary care clinic, I am well aware of the challenges that face medical groups today. As with any successful business, a clinic cannot function without the careful coordination of operational effectiveness and service delivery that translates into back office/managerial functions and...

The role of the CEO in board selection: too much, or too little, involvement can be problematic. Here is a best-practices process for CEO input and participation in the search for a new board member.
HALF A DECADE after the radical reshaping of board structure, processes, and accountability mandated by Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and reflected in SEC rules, governance practices remain unsettled with regard to the CEO's role in board selection. The days when CEOs of public companies largely chose new board members on the...

A private equity approach to building a strong board: based on our experience in working with hundreds of management teams, here are six key strategies for fast-growing companies to create the optimal board.
INDEPENDENT BOARDS can help companies at nearly every stage of development, as they provide a broader perspective, additional expertise, and critical fiduciary oversight. These boards are particularly important for companies in fast-changing industries, where there is a need to quickly understand and capitalize on opportunities. An independent...

It's party time for Jafra: armed with novel new products, a new logo and packaging and even a new slogan, Jafra executives insist the party plan is alive and well in the U.S. and around the world.
THE PARTY'S JUST getting started at Jafra Cosmetics International. Sales rose nearly 15% last year to $494 million, but company executives insist an array of new products, an aggressive global expansion strategy and the popularity of the party plan direct sales method should keep sales growing for years to...

Got an acquisition strategy?
Last issue's column, "Orthopedic Market to Continue to Appreciate and Consolidate" (January/February issue), summarized the various factors driving merger-and-acquisition (M&A) activity within the orthopedic market. In the current environment, many orthopedic companies will be looking to augment growth and enhance value through acquisitions. Given the overall failure rate of...

Company Watch - Hertz.
Apr 28, 2008 Hertz Global Holdings reported overall revenue growth was led by a 6.3 percent increase in worldwide car rental revenues for the quarter to a record $1.63 billion. Revenues from worldwide equipment rental were a record $411.0 million, up 5.4 percent over the prior year...

Boeing to Spotlight Commercial, Defense Products and Services at Singapore Airshow.
TRAVEL AND LEISURE CLOSE-UP-13 February 2008-Boeing to Spotlight Commercial, Defense Products and Services at Singapore Airshow(C)2008 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com The Boeing Company will highlight its broad range of commercial and defense offerings during this year's Singapore Airshow, which begins Feb. 19. "The new-look Singapore...