IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. Announces Federal Trade Commission Final Approval of Consent Agreement

WESTBROOK, Maine, Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ, IDXX) announced today that the Commissioners of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission") have granted final approval of the consent agreement previously reached between the Company and the staff of the FTC Bureau of Competition. The Commission had preliminarily approved the consent agreement in December 2012 and placed the agreement and a proposed draft complaint on public record for comment.

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"We are pleased that the Commission has announced final approval of the consent agreement that we reached with the Bureau of Competition staff," said Jonathan Ayers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While we admit no wrongdoing and continue to believe that our distribution practices did not violate the antitrust laws, this marks final resolution of the multi-year FTC investigation."

About IDEXX Laboratories

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a leader in pet healthcare innovation, serving practicing veterinarians around the world with a broad range of diagnostic and information technology-based products and services. IDEXX products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care, improve staff efficiency and build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in providing diagnostic tests and information for livestock and poultry and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX Laboratories employs more than 5,000 people and offers products to customers in over 100 countries.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements about the final approval by the Commissioners of the Consent Agreement the Company entered into with the FTC staff, and the impact of the Consent Agreement and such approval on the FTC's investigation of the Company's distribution arrangements that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "may," "anticipates," "intends," "would," "will," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "should," and similar words and expressions. These statements are based on management's expectations of future events as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments. Actual results could differ materially from management's expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include factors relating to our business and prospects that are discussed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, in the section captioned "Risk Factors."

Contact: Merilee Raines, Chief Financial Officer, 1-207-556-8155

SOURCE IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.