Sep 8--PRNewswire/AsiaNet LIFE SCIENCES ACQUISITION... ANN ARBOR: Genomic Solutions Inc has signed a definitive agreement to acquire life science systems manufacturer, Cartesian Technologies Inc., for $US 2.5 million the company said today. The deal, subject to stockholder approval, would add "revenue opportunities" in the drug discovery market and close by fourth quarter 2001, according to a company statement.ASIAN TUBING OPPORTUNITIES... HUNTSVILLE: Wolverine Tube Inc has briefed several key executives on its business strategy for Southeast Asia at a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, hosted by local long-standing company associate, Porn Prom Metals. Company chairman, president and ceo, Mr Dennis Horowitz, said "Our successful expansion in Shanghai, China; our strip joint venture in Fergus, Ontario, Canada; our acquisition of joining technologies and the increased capacity due to our capital expansion (Project 21) have allowed us to significantly increase our market penetration in all of Asia and certainly in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia."OIL CONTRACTS... HOUSTON: Global energy company, Parker Drilling Company, today announced two contracts with Swift Energy New Zealand to lease two of its oil rigs. GENE CO. RESTRUCTURE... ANN ARBOR: Gene equipment designer and developer, Genomic Solutions Inc, will restructure its operations to reduce expenditure by 35 per cent to accelerate its plan to achieve profitability by first quarter 2002, the company announced today.PHARMACEUTICALS WEBCAST... CAMBRIDGE: Millenium Pharmaceuticals will webcast live its presentation at the 14th Annual Health Care Conference in New York and also its address before Banc of America's Investment Conference in San Franscisco on September 13, the company said today.PEER-CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY... TUCSON: Gain Technology has capitalised on the Intel Developer Forum to report that its GT3100 USB 2.0 Physical Layer intellectual property transceiver has been certified by industry peers. The product would enhance the devices its supports, such as optical scanners, portable storage, external CD-R/W, desktop and hand-held video cameras and ink and laser printers, the company said. DRIVING EXPERIENCE UNVEILED... DEARBORN: Automotive company, Visteon Corporation, today said it would host a press conference to demonstrate its range of technologies which improve "the driving experience" at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 12.EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS: TORONTO: Inco today named Mr Pierre Alla as President Director General of Goro Nickel, the nickel-cobalt company based in New Caledonia, citing his "long and distinguished" career with French energy, water and communications multinational, Suez, heading several global infrastructure projects. DEARBORN: Visteon Corporation has named Mr Robert Pallash as president and general manager, Asian OEM Customer Business Group.FINANCIAL RESULTS: TAIPEI: ASE Test Limited today reported unaudited consolidated revenue of $US 20.22 million for last month, indicating a 50 per cent drop against August 2000. (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited, translated press releases for worldwide clients. Contact: www.asianet.com.au for full-text versions).