SGRP, SPAR Group, Inc. ** SGRP reported that its Japanese subsidiary, SPAR FM Japan, has signed a $2.5 million annual contract with a multi-national consumer goods company. SPAR will provide in-store merchandising including stock replenishment and building displays, demonstrations, and auditing to this client in approximately 1,500 store locations throughout Japan.SGRP is a diversified international…

PACB, Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. ** PACB reported a partnership for the 100K Pathogen Genome Project. As part of the project, PACB 's Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT(R)) technology will be used to sequence the genomes from at least 1,000 foodborne pathogen samples to completion, and to elucidate their epigenomes.These bacteria represent major illness-causing pathogens,…

ATHN, athenahealth, Inc. EPOC, Epocrates, Inc.** ATHN reported that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EPOC , a mobile health pioneer widely recognized for developing the most-widely adopted point-of-care medical application among U.S. physicians.The board of directors of each of ATHN and EPOC has agreed to a price of $11.75 per share, in…

BNSO, Bonso Electronics International, Inc. ** For the six-month period ended September 30, 2012, BNSO posted net income of $0.13 million or $0.02 basic and diluted earnings per share, as compared to a net loss of $0.18 million or $0.03 basic and diluted loss per share in the same period the prior year, and net…

DGX, Quest Diagnostics Inc. ** DGX reported that it has sold substantially all of the assets of its OralDNA(R) Labs salivary-diagnostics business to Access Genetics, a leading clinical laboratory with advanced molecular diagnostics test development and information technology capabilities.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.DGX is the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services that…

KTOS, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. ** KTOS reported that it recently received a new $8 million order for specialized equipment related to a certain Missile Defense program. Under this award, Kratos will design, engineer, manufacture and deliver specialized equipment related to the Missile Defense system.The equipment KTOS will be providing will be produced…

FCFC, FirstCity Financial Corporation ** FCFC and Värde Partners, Inc. reported that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which certain funds managed by Värde will acquire FCFC . Under the terms of the merger agreement, FCFC stockholders will receive $10.00 per share in cash for each share of FirstCity stock they own.…

SPPR, Supertel Hospitality, Inc. ** SPPR reported that it has sold the 64-room Comfort Suites hotel in Dover, Delaware on December 14, 2012 for $1.9 million.The hotel was previously secured with the Greenwich Capital loan and was unencumbered as part of the recent loan refinancing. Supertel will use the proceeds from the sale for general…

QUAD, Quad/Graphics, Inc. ** QUAD reported that its board of directors approved an increase to its 2013 quarterly cash dividend by 20% to $0.30 per share from $0.25 per share. In addition, the board of directors also declared a special dividend of $2 per share.The 2013 quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share is subject…

YGE, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited** YGE reported that it is expected to supply approximately 288 MW of modules to PV projects announced under the Golden Sun Program.China's Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science and Technology and National Energy Administration jointly reported that a total amount of 2,835 MW PV projects were approved under…