IN FOCUS

Crane Co. will hold its annual analyst conference starting at 8:00am (eastern time) on December 14th in New York City.

Roper Industries, Inc. yesterday announced the pricing of a public offering of 5 million shares of common stock at $60.10 per share. The transaction is expected to close on December 13, 2004.

Roper Industries, Inc. announced that it intends shortly to commence a public offering of 4.1 million shares of its common stock, plus up to an additional 0.6 million shares to cover over-allotments.

Thomas Industries Inc. yesterday reported that it is undertaking a review of strategic and financial alternatives, including exploration of acquisitions, stock buybacks, …

Pfeiffer Vacuum, a leading manufacturer of high quality vacuum pumps, vacuum gauges, mass spectrometers and complete vacuum systems, announces its results for the first 9 months of 2004.

Gardner Denver, Inc. announced that revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2004 were $182.6 million, a 63% increase compared to the third quarter of the previous year, primarily as a result of acquisitions. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2004 was $8.7 million, a 64% increase compared to the same period last year.

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, today reported a steady improvement in orders and revenues, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) as well as cash flow from operations in the third quarter of 2004.

The Group’s inflow of orders amounted to SEK 5,872 million (5,761), an increase of 3 percent after adjustment for the effects of exchange rate movements. Net sales amounted to SEK 5,491 million (5,528), which adjusted for the effects of exchange rate movements is on a par with the previous year.

Roper Industries, Inc. reported record diluted earnings per share (DEPS) of $0.73 in the third quarter of 2004, as compared with $0.56 reported in the prior year period.