Global lab chemical and life sciences company Sigma-Aldrich Corporation ( SIAL - Analyst Report ) announced an extension of its catalyst distribution agreement with Materia, Inc for another 10 years. As per the new agreement, Aldrich Chemical Co. LLC will continue to market patented-Materia Grubbs Catalyst across the world.

Materia, a catalyst technology company, believes that the agreement with Sigma-Aldrich is a win-win situation for them as the strong network of Sigma-Aldrich enables catalyst to cater to the chemical, polymer and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, Aldrich Chemical sells fifteen Materia metathesis catalysts based on patents approved by the California Institute of Technology, as well as other technology from Materia, Boston College, the University of Calgary and the University of New Orleans.

Last month, Sigma-Aldrich posted adjusted earnings of 97 cents per share for the second quarter of 2012, meeting the Zacks Consensus Estimate but exceeding the year-ago earnings of 93 cents. Profit, as reported, inched slightly higher to $115 million or 94 cents per share in the quarter from $113 million or 91 cents a year ago.

Revenues came in at $664 million in the quarter, up 4% year over year, but below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $673 million. Acquisitions added 6% to the growth while foreign exchange translation had an unfavorable impact of 5%. The company saw growth across its Research Chemicals and Fine Chemicals (“SAFC”) divisions.

Moving ahead, Sigma-Aldrich expects organic growth to be in low-to-mid single digits in 2012, down from the earlier expectation of mid single-digits. Macroeconomic uncertainties might hinder its Research Chemicals business whereas growth in Bioscience and Hitech is expected to drive SAFC sales for the remainder of the year. The acquisitions of BioReliance and Research Organics are expected to boost sales by 6%.

Sigma-Aldrich lowered its earnings guidance for the year as the company expects sales from the Research Chemicals business (which constitutes two-third of its revenues) to slowdown in the second half of the year. The company now expects adjusted earnings of $3.80 to $3.90 per share in 2012, down from the earlier range of $3.90 to $4.05. BioReliance and Research Organics acquisitions are expected to add roughly 5 cents to 7 cents a share to earnings in 2012.

The company, which competes with Bayer AG ( BAYRY - Analyst Report ) and other privately held companies, such as Brenntag AG and VWR Funding Inc., maintains a Zacks #4 Rank, which translates into a short-term (1 to 3 months) Sell rating.