Bio-Rad Laboratories Incorporated (BIO)

[SAE]

Bio-Rad Reports Third-Quarter Currency-Neutral Revenue Growth of More Than 5 Percent
Today : Wednesday 3 November 2010

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO) and (NYSE: BIO.B), a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, announced financial results today for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Third-quarter reported revenues were $471.5 million, up 2.3% compared to $461.1 million reported for the third quarter of 2009. On a currency-neutral basis, quarterly revenues increased 5.4% compared to the same period last year. Reflected in these results is $13.6 million additional revenue generated by certain diagnostics businesses of Biotest AG, which were added to the Company's portfolio in the first quarter of 2010. Excluding the revenue from the Biotest acquisition, third-quarter revenues were down 0.7% or up 2.2% on a currency neutral basis, compared to the same period last year. Third-quarter gross margin was 56.5%, unchanged, compared to the same quarter in 2009.

Net income attributable to Bio-Rad for the third quarter was $44.8 million or $1.59 per share on a fully diluted basis versus $1.38 per share reported for the same period last year.

Year-to-date revenues grew by 8.1% to $1.4 billion compared to the first three quarters in 2009. Adjusting for the impact of currency, revenue growth was 7.3%. Excluding the additional revenue from the Biotest acquisition, year-to-date organic revenues grew by 4.9%, or 4.1% on a currency-neutral basis.

Year-to-date net income attributable to Bio-Rad for 2010 was $117.6 million, or $4.18 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $106.8 million, or $3.85 per share, respectively, during the same period in 2009.

"Third-quarter results show consistency in many of our core product areas in spite of some weak markets in the U.S. and abroad," said Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad President and Chief Executive Officer. "As the year wraps up, we will carefully monitor economic pressure on our global operation and look for new opportunities to grow our business."

Life Science

The Life Science segment net sales for the third quarter were $153.2 million, up 1.9% compared to the same period last year. On a currency-neutral basis, Life Science segment sales increased by 3.5% compared to the third quarter of 2009. Sales growth of the Life Science segment in the U.S. reflects strength in spending by academic and biopharmaceutical customers; European sales continue to lag due to weak economic conditions facing government-funded research. Performance of the segment benefited from strong sales of core product lines including the Company's next generation PCR instruments, in particular, the CFX96™ real-time PCR detection system and associated reagents as well as the TC10™ automated cell counter, which was introduced earlier this year. Bio-Rad's Mini-PROTEAN® TGX™ precast electrophoresis gel product line, which offers high resolution and fast time to results is also continuing to gain customer acceptance.

Clinical Diagnostics

Reported net sales for the Clinical Diagnostics segment in the third quarter rose to $314.9 million, up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On a currency-neutral basis, net sales were up 6.3%. These results reflect additional revenue of $13.6 million from the diagnostics businesses of Biotest AG that were added to the Company's portfolio in the first quarter. Excluding revenue from the Biotest acquisition, net sales were up 1.5 % on a currency-neutral basis compared to the same period last year. Overall performance of the Clinical Diagnostics segment was negatively affected by economic challenges impacting healthcare markets in the U.S. and Europe as well as certain sales in 2009 that did not recur in 2010. In July, Bio-Rad submitted a Premarket Approval application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its fourth-generation HIV assay, the GS HIV Combo Ag/Ab EIA (enzyme immunoassay). The test detects HIV antigens (proteins that are part of the HIV virus) and HIV antibodies (proteins that are produced by the body to fight the HIV infection), offering earlier detection of HIV infections.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In connection with our audit committee's ongoing investigation of our compliance with the FCPA and internal control assessment by management and our internal audit group during our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010, we identified three significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2010 that, when considered and taken together, constitute a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2010. Our conclusion that we have a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2010 is not based on quantified misstatements in our historical financial statements or our financial statements as of and for our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010, but instead on the risk that we may be unable to prevent or detect on a timely basis potential material errors in our future financial statements. We do not presently anticipate that the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2010 will have any material effect on our previously reported financial results or our financial results for our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010. Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010 will contain more information about these three significant deficiencies and the resulting material weakness and the measures that we are considering initiating to attempt to remediate it.

Management will discuss these results in a conference call at 2 PM Pacific Time (5 PM Eastern Time) November 2, 2010. Interested parties may access the call by dialing 800-659-2032 (in the U.S.) or 617-614-2712 (international), access number 52899247.

A live webcast of the conference call may be accessed in the "Investor Relations" section of www.bio-rad.com. A replay of the call will be available at 888-286-8010 (in the U.S.) or 617-801-6888 (international), access number 98042813, for seven days following the call. The webcast of the call will be archived on the Bio-Rad site for on-demand replay for up to a year and may be accessed in the "Investor Relations" section of www.bio-rad.com.

About Bio-Rad

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO) and (NYSE: BIO.B), has remained at the center of scientific discovery for more than 50 years, manufacturing and distributing a broad range of products for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The Company is renowned worldwide among hospitals, universities, major research institutions, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for its commitment to quality and customer service. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is headquartered in Hercules, California, and serves more than 85,000 research and industry customers worldwide through its global network of operations. The Company employs over 6,800 people globally and had revenues of nearly $1.8 billion in 2009. For more information, visit www.bio-rad.com.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "intend," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding the Company's risks and uncertainties, please refer to the "Risk Factors" in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements...

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