Science & Technology 
Science and Technology
Science and Technology 
Wed, January 7, 2009
IRIS International Announces Richard H. Williams to Retire from Board of Directors
CHATSWORTH, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--IRIS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NASDAQ GM: IRIS), a leading manufacturer of automated in-vitro diagnostics systems and consumables for use in hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide, today announced that Independent Lead Director, Richard H. Williams, has elected to retire from the Company's Board of Directors, effective as of the Company's next Annual Shareholders Meeting.
"The Board of Directors and management team of IRIS International are grateful to Dick Williams for his valuable contributions during a period in which we have experienced very high growth and a broadening of our core urinalysis instrument and consumables product lines. His contributions were also important in the planning and implementation of our second five year plan now underway, which extends our technology platform into expected high growth, high margin areas of hematology and molecular diagnostics, including high value, high reimbursement blood-based tests for cancer and sexually transmitted diseases," stated César García, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of IRIS International.
Mr. Williams, who joined the IRIS Board in June 2003, elected Chairman in March 2004, and Independent Lead Director in November 2007, will serve out the remainder of his director term until the Company's next Annual Shareholders Meeting, when he will not stand for reelection.
Said Mr. Williams, "It has been a great privilege to have participated, along with César García and the other IRIS board members and management, in the successful transformation of IRIS over the last five and a half years. I am very confident that IRIS's strategy combined with the successful execution by its management team will continue to create significant shareholder value by creating ‘disruptive' product opportunities with a combined addressable market opportunity approaching $4.0 billion annually worldwide."
About IRIS International
IRIS International is a leading global in vitro diagnostics company focused on products that analyze particles and living cell forms and structures, or morphology of a variety of body fluids. The Company's products leverage its strengths in flow imaging technology, particle recognition and automation to bring efficiency to hospital and commercial laboratories. The initial applications for its technology have been in the urinalysis market and the Company is the leading worldwide provider of urine microscopy systems, with an installed based of more than 2,000 systems in over 50 countries.
SAFE HARBOR PROVISION
This press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's views on future financial performance, market growth, capital requirements, regulatory developments, new product introductions and acquisitions, and are generally identified by phrases such as "thinks," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," ,"plans," and similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statement. These statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including management's own knowledge and assessment of the Company's industry, R&D initiatives, competition and capital requirements. Other factors and uncertainties that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: identification of feasible new product initiatives, management of R&D efforts and the resulting successful development of new products and product platforms; obtaining regulatory approvals for new and enhanced products; acceptance by customers of the Company's products; integration of acquired businesses; substantial expansion of international sales; reliance on key suppliers; the potential need for changes in long-term strategy in response to future developments; future advances in diagnostic testing methods and procedures; potential changes in government regulations and healthcare policies, both of which could adversely affect the economics of the diagnostic testing procedures automated by the Company's products; rapid technological change in the microelectronics and software industries; and competitive factors, including pricing pressures and the introduction by others of new products with similar or better functionality than our products. These and other risks are more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which should be read in conjunction herewith for a further discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.