Bio-Rad Laboratories Reports Second-Quarter Financial Results HERCULES, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (Amex: BIO; BIOb), a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research products and clinical diagnostics, announced financial results today for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004. Second quarter net sales from continuing operations were $260.5 million, up 8.9 percent compared to the $239.3 million reported for the same quarter of 2003. This increase was primarily the result of organic growth in the Company's main business segments as well as currency effects. For the quarter, income from continuing operations was $20.3 million compared to $21.9 million in the second quarter of last year. In May, the Company sold its U.K. based confocal microscopy product line to Carl Zeiss Jena GMBH. As required by SFAS 144, the sales and expenses related to this product line for current and prior periods have been reclassified to a separate line on the income statement titled "Discontinued operations." Net sales for the first half of 2004 grew by 9.1 percent to $523.3 million compared to the same period last year. At 57.1 percent, gross margin for the first half of 2004 was down slightly compared to 57.5 percent in the same period of 2003. However, at 57.4 percent, second-quarter gross margin was markedly higher than the 56.4 percent reported for the second quarter of 2003. This improvement was a result of the Company's product mix skewing toward consumables as well as the elimination of some low margin products. Income from continuing operations for the six-month period was $42.9 million, or $1.67 per share, an 11.8 percent decrease compared to the $48.6 million, or $1.92 per share, reported in the corresponding period of last year. This reduction was largely due to anticipated spending on infrastructure improvements. Second Quarter Highlights * Overall net sales for the second quarter grew by 8.9 percent to reach $260.5 million compared to $239.3 million reported in the second quarter of 2003. On a currency-neutral basis, revenues were up 4.2 percent versus second-quarter 2003 results. * Basic earnings from continuing operations were $0.79 per share, or $0.76 per share on a diluted basis, compared to basic earnings per share of $0.86 and diluted earnings per share of $0.83 in the same period of 2003. * Life Science segment net sales for the quarter were $113.9 million, 3.4 percent higher than the comparable period last year. On a currency neutral basis, segment sales declined by 1.3 percent for the quarter. Overall performance in the Life Science segment was negatively impacted by increased competition in certain instrumentation businesses and the timing of shipments in the process chromatography business. Solid performers in this segment included the multiplex protein array technology, amplification reagents, and electrophoresis product lines. * The Clinical Diagnostics segment reported net sales of $144.4 million for the quarter, up 13.4 percent compared to the second quarter of 2003, or 8.8 percent excluding currency effects. These results were the result of growth in several areas including autoimmune testing, quality-control management and diabetes monitoring, as well as the addition of acquired Hematronix products to the quality controls portfolio. Moreover, sales of Bio-Rad's Platelia(TM) Aspergillus EIA test kit in the United States and Canada gained momentum, in part due to the Company's co-marketing agreement with Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. * During the quarter, the Company granted a worldwide, non-exclusive sublicense to OraSure Technologies, Inc. under patents relating to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Type 2, or HIV-2. "While our life science market is experiencing modest growth to date, we are anticipating the introduction of several very interesting new products in the coming months," said Norman Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This, coupled with the recent introduction of the Bio-Plex(TM)2200 to the diagnostic market, should provide good momentum during the second half of the year." Management will discuss these results in a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) August 5, 2004. Interested parties can access the call by dialing 800-901-5218 (in the U.S.), or 617-786-4511 (international), access number 89936051. The live web cast can be accessed at http://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 73327988, for seven days following the call and the web cast can be accessed at http://www.bio-rad.com/ for 30 days. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research products and clinical diagnostics. It is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 70,000 research and industry customers worldwide through a network of more than 30 wholly owned subsidiary offices. Various statements made within this press release may constitute "forward- looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward- looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the Company's expectations. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Second Quarter 2004 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (In thousands, except per share data) (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2004 2003 2004 2003 Net sales $260,546 $239,325 $523,295 $479,723 Cost of goods sold 110,885 104,265 224,370 203,985 Gross profit 149,661 135,060 298,925 275,738 Selling, general and administrative expense 90,199 76,947 177,256 152,269 Product research and development expense 25,545 21,990 49,878 42,601 Purchased in-process research and development expense -- -- 900 -- Interest expense 4,919 3,696 9,969 8,347 Foreign exchange losses, net 545 554 747 1,323 Other (income) expense, net (866) (880) (650) (1,484) Income from continuing operations before taxes 29,319 32,753 60,825 72,682 Provision for income taxes (9,048) (10,834) (17,934) (24,050) Income from continuing operations 20,271 21,919 42,891 48,632 Discontinued operations Discontinued operations (net of tax) (845) (963) (1,487) (1,312) Gain on divestiture (net of tax) 3,437 -- 3,437 -- Total discontinued operations 2,592 (963) 1,950 (1,312) Net income $22,863 $20,956 $44,841 $47,320 Basic earnings per share Continuing operations $0.79 $0.86 $1.67 $1.92 Discontinued operations 0.10 (0.03) 0.08 (0.05) Net income $0.89 $0.83 $1.75 $1.87 Weighted average common shares 25,699 25,386 25,662 25,336 Diluted earnings per share Continuing operations $0.76 $0.83 $1.62 $1.86 Discontinued operations 0.10 (0.03) 0.07 (0.05) Net income $0.86 $0.80 $1.69 $1.81 Adjusted weighted average shares 26,504 26,341 26,474 26,214 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Summary Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) (UNAUDITED) At June 30, At December 31, 2004 2003 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $155,329 $148,642 Accounts receivable, net 234,003 234,085 Inventories, net 188,564 190,258 Prepaid expenses, taxes and other current assets 82,491 97,893 Total current assets 660,387 670,878 Net property, plant and equipment 186,233 179,123 Goodwill, net 72,741 69,503 Other assets 103,399 67,354 Total assets $1,022,760 $986,858 Current liabilities: Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt $9,987 $10,423 Accounts payable 67,340 53,995 Accrued payroll and employee benefits 59,464 71,650 Sales, income and other taxes payable 12,634 20,833 Other current liabilities 61,712 77,425 Total current liabilities 211,137 234,326 Long-term debt, net of current maturities 226,098 225,835 Deferred tax liabilities 15,962 13,991 Other long-term liabilities 25,043 16,899 Stockholders' equity 544,520 495,807 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,022,760 $986,858 Certain items have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Summary Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (In thousands) (UNAUDITED) Period Ended June 30, 2004 2003 Cash flows from operating activities: Cash received from customers $517,385 $499,425 Cash paid to suppliers and employees (440,664) (409,833) Interest paid (9,866) (9,164) Income tax payments (20,860) (31,632) Miscellaneous receipts (payments) 3,568 (149) Discontinued operations (2,019) (2,055) Net cash provided by operating activities 47,544 46,592 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures, net (29,057) (25,368) Other investing activities (16,378) (14,908) Net cash used in investing activities (45,435) (40,276) Cash flows from financing activities: Long-term borrowings 0 10,835 Payments on long-term debt (212) (18,109) Other financing activities 3,465 6,002 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 3,253 (1,272) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 1,325 (3,949) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 6,687 1,095 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 148,642 27,733 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $155,329 $28,828 Reconciliation of income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: Income from continuing operations $42,891 $ 48,632 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 22,881 20,495 Changes in working capital (19,540) (37,131) Other 2,799 15,908 Discontinued operations (1,487) (1,312) Net cash provided by operating activities $47,544 $46,592 Certain items have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. DATASOURCE: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. CONTACT: Christine Tsingos, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or Ron Hutton, Treasurer, both of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., +1-510-724-7000, or Web site: http://www.bio-rad.com/

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