Agilent Technologies Inc

Agilent Technologies Inc., the world's biggest maker of scientific testing equipment, selected "Verigy" as the name for its semiconductor-testing unit, which is being spun off this year. The name comes from the Latin prefix "veri" for "true," and "gy" comes from "logy" for "the name of sciences," Palo Alto-based Agilent said. Agilent says it is planning to complete Verigy's initial stock sale in the middle of this year and execute the spinoff by October.

Agilent Technologies Inc., the world's biggest maker of scientific-testing equipment, said its fiscal third-quarter profit more than doubled to $227 million as sales increased. Net income rose to 54 cents a share from $104 million, or 20 cents a share, a year earlier, the Palo Alto-based company said. Excluding costs for stock-based compensation and other items, profit was 46 cents a share, exceeding the 42 cents expected by Needham & Co. analyst John Harmon. Sales rose 17% to $1.45 billion.

Agilent Technologies Inc. is expected to announce Monday that it will sell its semiconductor unit to private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Silver Lake Partners for about $2.65 billion, according to a source close to the sale process. Agilent has been in talks for months with teams of private equity firms over a sale of the business, which sells chips for mobile phones, printers and other tech equipment and has been a drag on the company's financial performance.

Dramatically narrowing its corporate focus, Agilent Technologies Inc. is shedding its chip unit and spinning off other assets as it concentrates on the test-and-measurement business at its historic core. About 1,300 jobs will be cut in the reorganization, which will take the company back to roots that extend to the earliest days of its former parent, Hewlett-Packard Co. Agilent was spun off from HP in 2000.

Agilent Technologies Inc., which is exiting its semiconductor-related businesses, will close two Palo Alto sites and move its headquarters to Santa Clara, Calif., next year. Agilent will consolidate its Silicon Valley administrative, research and manufacturing operations at a single campus in Santa Clara by October 2006, a spokeswoman said. Chief Executive William Sullivan said Aug.

Agilent Technologies Inc., a Palo Alto firm whose testing equipment is used by clients as diverse as chip maker Intel Corp. and drug giant Merck & Co., said Wednesday that its fiscal first-quarter loss was wider than it had forecast because customers postponed purchases. Revenue in the quarter ended Jan. 31 was $1.35 billion to $1.45 billion, down from $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion previously forecast, the company said. The loss, excluding some costs, was 22 to 28 cents a share.

Agilent Technologies Inc., the Palo Alto-based maker of high-tech testing equipment, said Friday that it would cut an additional 4,000 jobs, or more than 11% of its workforce, in an attempt to stem continuing losses. Company executives blamed the harsh financial results on customers deciding not to purchase new equipment. Agilent's customers encompass a diverse group of companies in the communications, electronics and life sciences industries, ranging from chip maker Intel Corp.

Agilent Technologies Inc., a money-losing maker of test equipment, said Monday that it had a wider fiscal third-quarter loss as it cut costs and wrote off deferred tax assets. Its shares rose after Agilent said it would break even or have a profit in the current period. The loss was $1.56 billion, or $3.28 a share, compared with $228 million, or 49 cents, a year earlier, the company said. Sales in the quarter ended July 31 rose 8% to $1.5 billion from $1.39 billion.

EARNINGS Agilent Technologies Inc., the world's biggest maker of scientific testing gear, had a fourth-quarter profit of $13 million after losses for seven straight periods. Net income equaled 3 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $236 million, or 51 cents, a year earlier. Sales fell 3.5% to $1.68 billion, the Palo Alto, Calif., company said. Agilent benefited from cost cuts and an improving market for semiconductors, Chief Executive Ned Barnholt said. Shares of Agilent added $1.