Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Reports Record Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2010 Financial Results

HERCULES, CA--(Marketwire - February 24, 2011) - 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 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Fourth-quarter reported revenues were $533.7 million, up 7.8% compared to $495.1 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2009. On a currency-neutral basis, quarterly revenues increased 9.9% compared to the same period last year. This increase was the result of organic growth across Bio-Rad’s two main areas, Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics as well as revenue of $15.3 million resulting from the acquisition of 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, fourth-quarter revenues were up 6.7% on a currency neutral basis. Fourth-quarter gross margin increased to 56.2% compared to 54.2% during the same quarter last year.

Net income attributable to Bio-Rad for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $67.9 million, or $2.41 per share on a fully diluted basis compared to $1.35 per share, during the same period last year. In December, the Company refinanced a portion of its long-term debt issuing $425 million of senior debt. Proceeds were used to retire $200 million of subordinated debt in December and, subsequent to year end, $225 million of subordinated debt. The effect of this transaction on pretax earnings for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $5.3 million, which is included in interest expense.

The tax provision for the fourth quarter was a benefit of $10.7 million. This extraordinary fourth-quarter provision benefit includes the repatriation of foreign earnings to the U.S. and the favorable impact of the extension of the U.S. Research and Experimentation tax credit. Without these two items, the fourth-quarter effective tax rate would have been approximately 25%.

For the full year, sales grew by 8.0% to $1,927.1 million compared to $1,784.2 million in 2009. Year over year, there was insignificant currency impact on sales growth. Full-year net income attributable to Bio-Rad was $185.5 million, or $6.59 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $144.6 million, or $5.20 per share, respectively, in 2009. Full-year gross margin increased to 56.6% compared to last year’s figure of 56.0%.

“We are pleased by our performance during the fourth quarter and the entire year,” said Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad President and Chief Executive Officer. “In spite of a cautious business environment in the U.S. and Europe throughout 2010, we are encouraged by customer acceptance of several new products including our TC10™ automated cell counter and our IH-1000 automated blood typing platform. Although continued economic pressure from European markets is predicted, we expect 2011 to be another year of progress for Bio-Rad.”

Life Science

The Life Science segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $192.9 million, up 1.0% compared to the same period last year. On a currency-neutral basis, Life Science segment sales increased by 2.2%. Full-year reported revenues for the Life Science segment were $648.1 million, up 2.6% over the prior year, or an increase of 2.2% on a currency-neutral basis. European sales continued to lag in the fourth quarter as a result of weak economic conditions facing government-funded research. During the quarter, the Life Science segment benefited from sales of precast electrophoresis gels as well as its next generation PCR instruments, in particular, the CFX96™ real-time PCR detection system.

The TC10 automated cell counter also continued to gain rapid customer acceptance on a global basis. In November, Bio-Rad launched the Criterion® TGX Stain-Free™ precast electrophoresis gels which, when combined with Bio-Rad’s Gel Doc™ EZ imager, provide researchers with the fastest protein separation and visualization available.

Clinical Diagnostics

The Clinical Diagnostics segment reported net sales of $336.5 million for the fourth quarter, up 12.0% compared to the same period in 2009. On a currency-neutral basis, net sales were up 14.7%. These results include additional revenue of $15.3 million from the diagnostics businesses of Biotest AG that were added to the Company’s portfolio in the first quarter of 2010. Excluding revenue from the Biotest acquisition, net sales were up 9.3% on a currency-neutral basis compared to the same quarter last year. Full-year reported revenues for the Clinical Diagnostics segment were $1,265.3 million, an increase of 11.0% over the prior year. On a currency-neutral basis, full-year sales increased 11.3% compared to 2009 results. Excluding revenue from the Biotest acquisition, full-year sales increased 6.3% on a currency neutral basis. Performance in the Clinical Diagnostics segment during the fourth quarter was the result of growth across all product lines, most notably quality controls, blood typing, diabetes monitoring, as well as sales of the BioPlex 2200® system. During the fourth quarter, the Company announced FDA clearance and the U.S. launch of Bio-Rad’s BioPlex® 2200 Anti-CCP test for the early detection of rheumatoid arthritis. This novel marker has been shown to have superior diagnostic specificity.

2010 Full-Year Highlights

-- Full-year Company sales grew by 8.0% to $1,927.1 million. -- Year-over-year net income was $185.5 million, or $6.59 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $144.6 million, or $5.20 per share in 2009. -- In January, Bio-Rad completed the purchase of certain diagnostics businesses of Biotest AG including its diagnostics products in the areas of blood transfusion testing, transplantation, and infectious diseases. -- Also, in January, Bio-Rad announced the launch of a new Anti-CCP test for markets outside the U.S. for its BioPlex 2200 system for the early detection of rheumatoid arthritis. After receiving FDA clearance later in the year, the product was launched in the U.S. -- In March, Bio-Rad announced the launch of the Mini-PROTEAN® TGX™ precast gels that provide researchers with the fastest running, long shelf life precast gels for protein electrophoresis. -- In May, Bio-Rad introduced the TC10 automated cell counter, which accurately and reproducibly provides total mammalian cell counts in 30 seconds, eliminating the need for manually counting cells. -- Also in May, the Clinical Diagnostics segment announced the launch of the BioPlex® 2200 MMRV IgG kit (measles, mumps, rubella, and the varicella-zoster virus) for use on the company’s BioPlex 2200 system. -- During the second quarter, Bio-Rad received notification from the FDA that it could proceed with an Investigational New Drug Study for its Dengue NS1 Ag microplate assay. -- In June, Bio-Rad announced the launch of its IH-1000 blood screening system for markets outside the U.S. -- In July, Bio-Rad submitted Premarket Approval application to the FDA for its fourth-generation HIV assay, the GS HIV Combo Ag/Ab EIA (enzyme immunoassay), offering early detection of HIV infections as well as acute HIV infections. -- In September, Bio-Rad announced the launch of the Gel Doc EZ imager, the first gel documentation system that provides publication-quality images and analysis in seconds. -- In November, the Life Science segment launched Criterion TGX Stain-Free precast gels which, when combined with Bio-Rad’s Gel Doc EZ imager, provide researchers with the fastest protein separation and visualization available. -- In December, Bio-Rad successfully issued $425 million of senior debt. As a result of that transaction, the Company redeemed $200 million of subordinated debt originally due in 2014. Subsequently, in January 2011, the Company redeemed $225 million of subordinated debt originally due 2013. 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In connection with our audit committee’s ongoing investigation of our compliance with the FCPA, our management identified three significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 that, when considered and taken together, constitute a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. Our conclusion that we have a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 is not based on quantified misstatements in our historical financial statements or our financial statements as of and for our fiscal quarter and year ended December 31, 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 December 31, 2010 will have any material effect on our previously reported financial results or our financial results for our fiscal quarter or year ended December 31, 2010. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 will contain more information about these three significant deficiencies and the resulting material weakness and the measures that we have initiated and 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) February 24, 2011. Interested parties may access the call by dialing 866-202-0886 (in the U.S.) or 617-213-8841 (international), access number 25027707.

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 51107717, 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 exceeding $1.9 billion in 2010. 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.

 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share data) (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, ------------------------ ------------------------ 2010 2009 2010 2009 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net sales $ 533,720 $ 495,073 $ 1,927,118 $ 1,784,244 Cost of goods sold 233,997 226,604 835,630 784,401 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Gross profit 299,723 268,469 1,091,488 999,843 Selling, general and administrative expense 176,672 163,862 635,213 601,468 Product research and development expense 45,267 44,510 172,266 163,585 Impairment losses on goodwill and long-lived assets - 3,802 - 3,802 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Income from operations 77,784 56,295 284,009 230,988 Interest expense 20,548 14,363 63,717 47,024 Foreign exchange losses 338 1,754 3,884 5,003 Other (income) expense, net (303) (1,915) (3,875) (6,871) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Income before taxes 57,201 42,093 220,283 185,832 (Provision) benefit for income taxes 10,736 (3,571) (33,348) (36,667) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net income including noncontrolling interests 67,937 38,522 186,935 149,165 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (29) (660) (1,445) (4,545) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net income attributable to Bio-Rad $ 67,908 $ 37,862 $ 185,490 $ 144,620 =========== =========== =========== =========== Basic earnings per share: Net income per share basic attributable to Bio-Rad $ 2.44 $ 1.38 $ 6.70 $ 5.28 =========== =========== =========== =========== Weighted average common shares - basic 27,808 27,491 27,665 27,404 =========== =========== =========== =========== Diluted earnings per share: Net income per share diluted attributable to Bio-Rad $ 2.41 $ 1.35 $ 6.59 $ 5.20 =========== =========== =========== =========== Weighted average common shares - diluted 28,233 28,006 28,151 27,828 =========== =========== =========== =========== Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) (UNAUDITED) December 31, December 31, 2010 2009 ------------ ------------ Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 906,551 $ 649,938 Restricted cash 6,422 - Short-term investments 118,636 94,876 Accounts receivable, net 387,996 345,734 Inventories 398,100 351,206 Other current assets 157,641 120,920 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 1,975,346 1,562,674 Property, plant and equipment, net 333,617 302,417 Goodwill, net 363,981 327,626 Purchased intangibles, net 203,881 204,779 Other assets 185,939 138,357 ------------ ------------ Total assets $ 3,062,764 $ 2,535,853 ============ ============ Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 113,440 $ 92,988 Accrued payroll and employee benefits 131,381 126,702 Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt 233,181 5,132 Income and other taxes payable 50,935 42,322 Other current liabilities 137,690 152,828 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 666,627 419,972 Long-term debt, net of current maturities 731,100 737,919 Other long-term liabilities 124,518 98,749 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities 1,522,245 1,256,640 Bio-Rad stockholders’ equity 1,536,696 1,259,726 Noncontrolling interests 3,823 19,487 ------------ ------------ Total stockholders’ equity 1,540,519 1,279,213 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 3,062,764 $ 2,535,853 ============ ============ Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) (UNAUDITED) Year Ended December 31, 2010 2009 ----------- ----------- Cash flows from operating activities: Cash received from customers $ 1,877,483 $ 1,778,316 Cash paid to suppliers and employees (1,536,935) (1,386,382) Interest paid (59,834) (38,471) Income tax payments (55,502) (37,749) Other operating activities 697 9,360 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities 225,909 325,074 Cash flows from investing activities: Payments for acquisitions and long-term investments (89,307) (35,990) Other investing activities (127,205) (139,962) ----------- ----------- Net cash used in investing activities (216,512) (175,952) Cash flows from financing activities: Long-term borrowings 424,633 294,750 Payments on long-term debt (206,706) (6,823) Other financing activities 10,818 6,006 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by financing activities 228,745 293,933 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 18,471 2,359 ----------- ----------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 256,613 445,414 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 649,938 204,524 ----------- ----------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 906,551 $ 649,938 =========== =========== Reconciliation of net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities: Net income including noncontrolling interests $ 186,935 $ 149,165 Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 108,911 101,682 Impairment expense - 3,802 Changes in working capital (72,350) 66,707 Other 2,413 3,718 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities $ 225,909 $ 325,074 =========== ===========