HERCULES, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 23, 2012) - 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, 2011.

Fourth-quarter reported revenues were $550.2 million, up 3.1% compared to $533.7 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2010. On a currency-neutral basis, quarterly revenues increased 2.4% compared to the same period in 2010. Fourth-quarter gross margin increased to 56.5% compared to 56.2% during the same quarter in 2010.

Net income attributable to Bio-Rad for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $59.2 million, or $2.08 per share on a fully diluted basis compared to $2.41 per share, during the same period in 2010. These results include a net $7.0 million in operating costs including approximately $2.5 million of amortization expense resulting from Bio-Rad's acquisition of QuantaLife, Inc., in October 2011. Fourth-quarter results in 2010 reflected a tax provision benefit of $10.7 million that was the result of repatriation of foreign earnings 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 in 2010 would have been approximately 25% compared to the 20% tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the annual 2011 tax rate of 24%.

For the full year, sales grew by 7.6% to $2,073.5 million compared to $1,927.1 million in 2010. After normalizing for the impact of currency effects, full year revenues increased 3.1%. Full-year net income attributable to Bio-Rad was $178.2 million, or $6.26 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $185.5 million, or $6.59 per share in 2010. Full-year results in 2010 benefitted from a one-time favorable tax event mentioned above. Full-year gross margin increased to 56.8% compared to 56.6% reported in 2010.

"As we had anticipated, performance in the fourth quarter and throughout the year was impacted by an uncertain global economy that affected many of our markets in the U.S. and abroad," said Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad President and Chief Executive Officer. "In spite of these challenges, we continued to make progress in 2011, achieving a milestone for Bio-Rad of crossing the $2 billion mark. While the global economic outlook suggests similar macroeconomic headwinds for 2012, we will continue to monitor these pressures on our global operation and look for opportunities to grow our business."

Life Science
The Life Science segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $198.9 million, up 3.1% compared to the same period in 2010. On a currency-neutral basis, Life Science segment sales increased by 2.3%. Full-year reported revenues for the Life Science segment were $694.7 million, up 7.2% over the same period in 2010, or an increase of 3.4% on a currency-neutral basis. Results of the fourth quarter reflect good momentum across all product lines, in particular, recently introduced imaging products including the ChemiDoc^™ MP imaging system and Gel Doc^™ EZ system as well as the Trans-Blot^® Turbo^™ transfer system, a rapid western blotting instrument that allows researchers to efficiently transfer proteins from gel to blot in three minutes. In October, Bio-Rad acquired QuantaLife, Inc., a company that developed an innovative digital PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) system providing quantification of target molecules with unprecedented precision and sensitivity.

Clinical Diagnostics
The Clinical Diagnostics segment reported net sales of $347.3 million for the fourth quarter, up 3.2% compared to the same period in 2010. On a currency-neutral basis, net sales were up 2.5%. Full-year reported revenues for the Clinical Diagnostics segment were $1,363.8 million, an increase of 7.8% over 2010. On a currency-neutral basis, full-year sales increased 2.9% compared to 2010 results. Overall performance in the Clinical Diagnostics segment in the fourth quarter reflects global economic challenges impacting healthcare markets worldwide. These headwinds were partially offset by growth of the Company's quality controls, blood typing, and diabetes monitoring products, as well as sales of the BioPlex^® 2200 system.

2011 Full-Year Highlights

• Full-year Company sales grew by 7.6% to $2,073.5 million.
• Year-over-year net income was $178.2 million, or $6.26 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $185.5 million, or $6.59 per share in 2010.
• In March, Bio-Rad launched the Trans-Blot Turbo transfer system, a rapid western blotting instrument that allows researchers to efficiently transfer proteins from gel to blot in three minutes.
• During the second quarter, Bio-Rad announced the European and Canadian launch of its BioPlex^® 2200 Antiphospholipid Syndrome IgG, IgM, and IgA kits for use on its BioPlex 2200 system. Antiphospholipid Syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly produces antibodies to certain blood proteins causing thrombosis (clotting) within arteries, veins, and small blood vessels.
• In July, the Company announced that it had received FDA Premarket Application approval from the FDA for its fourth-generation HIV assay, the GS HIV Combo Ag/Ab EIA (enzyme immunoassay), which detects both HIV antigens and HIV antibodies, offering earlier detection of HIV infections.
• In July, Bio-Rad introduced several PCR thermal cyclers including the CFX96 Touch^™ and CFX384 Touch^™ real-time PCR detection systems, which feature touch screens for run setup and display of real-time PCR data.
• Also in July, the C1000 Touch^™ thermal cycler was introduced, offering high thermal performance with a touch screen for large high-throughput labs as well as the T100^™ thermal cycler, a compact PCR instrument designed for smaller labs.
• In September, Bio-Rad launched ChemiDoc MP imaging system for more accurate western blot quantification.
• In October, Bio-Rad acquired QuantaLife, Inc., a company that developed an innovative digital PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) system.

Management will discuss these results in a conference call at 2 PM Pacific Time (5 PM Eastern Time) February 23, 2012. Interested parties may access the call by dialing 866-831-6270 (in the U.S.) or 617-213-8858 (international), access number 20400404.

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 37059477, 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 100,000 research and industry customers worldwide through its global network of operations. The Company employs over 7,100 people globally and had revenues exceeding $2 billion in 2011. 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.