PRINCETON, N.J., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Orchid Cellmark Inc. , a leading worldwide provider of identity DNA testing services, today announced that it will open a new regional forensic facility in the North West of England later this year following a major award of work from nine new police forces. This work was awarded to Orchid Cellmark following the North West/South West and Wales regional forensic tender.
The laboratory will place Orchid Cellmark close to its customers in the North West of England and is expected to provide expansion capacity to accommodate the award as well as future growth. Orchid Cellmark has already started DNA testing work for some of its new police force customers and is currently preparing to take on the rest of the award.
Three-year contracts are expected to be executed shortly for the nine police forces under which Orchid Cellmark will provide forensic services, including DNA testing of database crime scene samples, forensic casework and PACE samples (DNA database samples taken under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act). The work was awarded following a lengthy competitive bidding process.
Thomas Bologna, President and Chief Executive Officer said, “Orchid Cellmark was delighted with the outcome of the North West, South West and Wales regional tender. We believe the magnitude of the anticipated work justifies the requirement for a new facility in North West England. This award validates our approach to providing competitive DNA testing services of the highest quality.” Mr. Bologna continued, “We believe that our success in the regional tender demonstrates that we can compete well in the U.K. on a direct basis with other U.K. forensics companies. We anticipate the remaining police forces in the U.K. will begin tendering their forensics work through the National Procurement Plan later this year or in the first quarter of 2009.”
David Hartshorne, Commercial Director of Orchid Cellmark’s U.K. operation said, “The new facility will not only allow us to serve customers under the North West/South West and Wales regional tender but also positions the company to address future opportunities. The facility is needed at this time because of the large volume of forensic casework awarded to Orchid Cellmark and forms an important part of our plan to successfully implement this work as we grow our business.”
About Orchid Cellmark
Orchid Cellmark Inc. is a leading international provider of DNA testing services for human identity testing and agricultural applications. In the human identity area, Orchid Cellmark provides DNA testing and other services for forensic investigation, paternity testing and family relationship analysis and security applications. In the agriculture field, Orchid Cellmark provides DNA testing services for selective trait breeding. Orchid Cellmark’s strong market positions in these segments reflect the company’s accredited laboratories in the U.S. and U.K., its innovative genetic analysis technologies and expertise and the world-renowned Cellmark brand that has been associated with exceptional quality, reliability and customer service for nearly two decades. More information on Orchid Cellmark can be found at www.orchid.com.
All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward- looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: expectations regarding Orchid Cellmark’s business operations and outlook, the expectation that the new regional forensic facility will provide expansion capacity to accommodate the award as well as future growth, the expectation that three year contracts will be executed shortly for the nine police forces, the belief that the magnitude of the anticipated work justifies the requirement for a new facility in North West England, the belief that the award validates our approach to providing competitive DNA testing services of the highest quality, the belief that our success in the regional tender demonstrates that we can compete well in the U.K. on a direct basis with other U.K. forensics companies, the anticipation that the remaining police forces in the U.K. will tender their forensics work through the National Procurement Plan starting later this year or in the first quarter of 2009, and the belief that the new facility in North West England will not only allow us to serve customers under the North West/South West and Wales regional tender but also positions the company to address future opportunities. Such statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, the risk that we are not able to regain or replace services that we previously provided to two key police forces in the U.K. under an arrangement with LGC, the risk that the amount of revenue resulting from the North West/South West and Wales regional tender in the U.K. is not significant, Orchid Cellmark’s ability to timely and successfully integrate ReliaGene’s business, uncertainties relating to technologies, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of Orchid Cellmark’s products and services, dependence on government funding and collaborations, regulatory approvals, competition, intellectual property of others, patent protection, litigation, the timing of release of federal funds, the timing and amount of contracts put up for bid, and Orchid Cellmark’s ability to successfully offer its services directly to U.K. police forces. These risks and other additional factors affecting these forward-looking statements and Orchid Cellmark’s business are discussed under the headings “Risks Related to Our Business” and “Risks Associated with Our Common Stock” in Orchid Cellmark’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings made by Orchid Cellmark with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Orchid Cellmark expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Orchid Cellmark’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, except as may be required by law.
Information contained in our press releases should be considered accurate only as of the date of the release. Information in any press release may be superseded by more recent information we have disclosed in later press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise. Press releases may contain forward-looking statements based on the expectations of our management as of the date of the release. Actual results may materially differ based on several factors, including those described in the press release.
CONTACT: Investors, Mary Bashore of Orchid Cellmark Inc., +1-609-750-2324;
or Media, Barbara Lindheim of GendeLLindheim BioCom Partners,
+1-212-918-4650, for Orchid Cellmark Inc.
Web site: http://www.orchid.com/
