Textron Inc. is not only one of the world's best known multi-industry companies, it is a pioneer of the diversified business model. Founded in 1923, Textron Inc. have grown into a network of businesses with total revenues of $14.2 billion, and approximately 37,000 employees with facilities and presence in 29 countries, serving a diverse and global customer base. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A.,Textron is ranked 173rd on the FORTUNE 500 list of largest U.S. companies. Organizationally, Textron consists of numerous subsidiaries and operating divisions, which are responsible for the day-to-day operation of their businesses.The company's golf carts enrich their golfing jaunts, its Cessna airplanes and Bell helicopters whisk them around, its auto parts keep their cars running, and its financial subsidiary provides loans. Cessna and Bell are bright spots in Textron's financial results. Cessna accounts for more than half of profits; Bell about 20%. While Textron enjoyed healthy sales growth and good profit margins for several years, changes in the Pentagon budget and the global recession may dampen business in several segments. The US government accounts for about one-quarter of Textron's sales; geographically, customers in the US represent nearly two-thirds of sales.

Based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Asta Funding, Inc., is a leading consumer receivable asset management company that specializes in the purchase, management and liquidation of performing and non-performing consumer receivables. Asta generates revenues and earnings primarily through the purchase and collection of performing and non-performing consumer receivables that have typically been either charged-off by the credit grantors or not considered to be prime receivables. These receivables include MasterCard, Visa and other credit card accounts issued by banks and other consumer loans issued by credit grantors. Asta may also purchase bulk receivable portfolios that include both distressed and non-conforming loans.

The Unilever UK unit manufactures and distributes consumer products organized along its foods, home, and personal care subsidiaries. To this end, Unilever UK manages a vast products portfolio of noteworthy names. Its foods business includes such brands as Bertolli, Cornetto, Marmite, Sunsilk, Cif, and Persil. The company also boasts some 40 laundry, household cleaning, and health and beauty brands, which are sold under the labels Lynx, Persil, Domestos, and Dove, among others. The company consolidated its UK subsidiaries in 2007 and it operates them from its Leatherhead headquarters.

Ronson Corporation distributes consumer products, such as cigarette lighters, lighter fluid, flints, wicks, and butane fuel injectors, to customers in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Ronson also makes Multi-Lube spray lubricant and Kleenol spot remover. Ronson Aviation, another unit of its business, provides cargo handling, plane fueling, and aircraft repair, among other services, from its hangar and office at Trenton-Mercer Airport in Trenton, New Jersey. The division serves public and governmental agencies. In 2009, Ronson agreed to sell off virtually all of its operations, including the aviation, consumer products, and Canadian businesses.

Streamlight, Inc. manufactures a wide range of professional flashlights, lanterns, and headlamps for law enforcement, fire, industrial, outdoor, and automotive applications. Streamlight's products have virtually indestructible plastic cases and can maintain reliable high powered luminosity in extreme heat and cold environments. The company's lights are also waterproof to a depth of up to 200 feet. Streamlight also makes a line of rechargeable flashlights.

Earth Search Sciences, Inc., (OTCBB : ESSE) is a dynamic emerging growth company with more than ten years of research and development invested in bringing breakthrough remote sensing technology to the commercial marketplace. Earth Search had the foresight to know that customers' strategic decision making could beneft from the very precise information available only through advanced hyperspectral instruments, such as the PROBE-1. Today, technical decision-makers benefit from this technology in mineral exploration, oil and gas exploration, environmental monitoring and other business channels. Earth Search Sciences's clients and partners are strengthened by the competitive advantage of the PROBE-1 technology.The company has developed remote sensing instruments (using what is called hyperspectral remote sensing technology) based on NASA's Airborne Visible and Infra-Red Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). The instruments designed by ESSI collect and analyze data for use in oil and gas exploration, mining, hazardous material remediation, and ecosystem monitoring, among other things. The company has served customers in the private, military, and government sectors. Chairman and CEO Larry Vance owns 74% of the company.

Schurman Fine Papers, which operates American Greetings, Carlton Cards, and Papyrus retail stores, offers specialty gift products such as greeting cards, stationary, gift wrap, and other paper products. Its retail network consists of more than 500 stores located throughout the US and Canada. More than 170 of its stores operate under the Papyrus name, a brand on which the company was originally built (the brand was sold to American Greetings in 2009). Schurman Fine Papers was founded in 1950 by Marcel and Margrit Schurman; their daughter Dominique Schurman now heads the company.

Biotage AB is a leading supplier of tools and technology for Medicinal and Analytical Chemistry and process Development. The company’s organizational structure has historically been comprised of two divisions: Discovery Chemistry and Biosystems. The Biosystems division was divested to QIAGEN effective as of 2 October 2008. Biotage was acting as a distributor of the Biosystems products during Q4 2008. Biosystems products contains Pyrosequencing systems for genetic analysis, PyroMark products for methylation, SNP and mutation analysis and Pyro Gold reagents.Following the divestment of Biosystem, Biotage is focused on forther developing and enhancing its Discovery Chemistry business. Discovery Chemistry supplies products and services for three prominent market segments, Medicinal Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Process Development. Primary products include microwave synthesis, resins and solid phase extraction (SPE), flash purification cartridges and systems, evaporation and reaction screening instruments, which target chemists in research organizations worldwide.

Watkins Incorporated manufactures more than 350 natural products, including body lotions and bath salts, organic dish soaps and bathroom cleaners, and organic black pepper and vanilla extracts. Watkins, which distributes its products in the US, Canada, the UK, and the Philippines, sells through retailers such as Target, Wal-Mart, and Whole Foods, as well as through its e-commerce Web site. Owned by chairman Irwin L. Jacobs since 1978, Watkins' roots go back to the 1860s.

Crane Co. is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products with a substantial presence in a number of focused niche markets. With approximately 12,000 employees working together in five business segments across 25 countries, Crane generated 2008 net sales of $2.6 billion.Crane is committed to the highest standards of business conduct. Within that framework, their objective is to grow Economic Value Added (EVA) by continuing to transition to a more integrated operating company. They strive to create value for all their stakeholders with a highly disciplined approach to materially strengthening our businesses through successful implementation of the Crane Business System, through strategic linkages among their businesses, and through utilization of strong free cash flow for strategic acquisitions.

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