Bio-Rad Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2014 Financial Results

HERCULES, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 26, 2015) - Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO) and (NYSE: BIO.B), a global provider of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, announced financial results today for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

Fourth-quarter 2014 reported revenues were $598.2 million, a decrease of 0.7% compared to $602.6 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2013. On a currency-neutral basis, quarterly revenues increased 4.6% compared to the same period in 2013. Fourth-quarter gross margin was 53.1% compared to 53.6% during the same quarter in 2013.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $39.0 million, or $1.34 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $30.1 million, or $1.04 per share during the same period in 2013. Impacting the fourth quarter of 2014 was $11.4 million of expense associated with a product line discontinuation and $7.0 million reflecting the re-valuation of contingent consideration related to prior acquisitions. The fourth quarter of 2014 benefitted from no accrual of settlement costs associated with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) matter, compared to the prior year quarter.

The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2014 of 14.7% was significantly lower than the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2013 of 32.3% mainly due to the reinstatement of the 2014 U.S. research & development tax credit and releases of valuation allowances and tax reserves.

For the full year of 2014, sales were $2,175.0 million compared to $2,132.7 million in 2013, an increase of 2.0%, or 3.3% on a currency neutral basis. Full-year gross margin was 54.2% compared to 55.3% reported in 2013. The net decline in gross margin is largely attributable to $11.6 million resulting from plant closures and product line discontinuations.

Full-year net income in 2014 was $88.8 million, or $3.05 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $77.8 million, or $2.69 per share in 2013. The change in net income was primarily due to a reduction of $18.7 million of annual interest expense in 2014 arising from the redemption of Senior Subordinated Notes in September 2013 and $15.0 million less in settlement costs associated with the FCPA matter. These items were offset in large part by the overall impact of $14.7 million from plant closures and product line discontinuations as well as additional investment associated with our April 2014 acquisition of GnuBIO.

As announced previously, in the fourth quarter of 2014 the Company settled the previously disclosed investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the FCPA matter and paid approximately $55 million in resolution.

"In the absence of currency headwinds experienced in the latter part of the year, we are encouraged with our underlying performance in the fourth quarter and the entire year," said Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad President and Chief Executive Officer. "The year was one of progress on many fronts and we look forward to 2015." 

Life Science
The Life Science segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $223.7 million, up 1.5% compared to the same period in 2013. On a currency-neutral basis, Life Science segment sales increased by 6.3%. The sales increase during the quarter reflected growth in the segment's core businesses, in particular, sales of gene expression and protein quantification products and the Company's QX200™ Droplet Digital™ PCR system. During the quarter Bio-Rad introduced its S3e™ Cell Sorter, an enhanced system for cell analysis. Full-year reported revenues for the Life Science segment were $728.3 million, up 2.6% compared to the same period in 2013, or an increase of 4.0% on a currency-neutral basis. 

Clinical Diagnostics
The Clinical Diagnostics segment reported net sales of $370.3 million for the fourth quarter, a decrease of 2.0% compared to the same period in 2013. On a currency-neutral basis, net sales were up 3.6%. Results from the fourth quarter reflected growth across most product lines, most notably immunology, quality controls, and diabetes products. During the fourth quarter, the Company announced that it had received Premarket Application approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Company's Geenius™ HIV 1/2 Supplemental Assay. The assay is a single-use test intended for use as an additional, more specific, test to confirm the presence of and differentiate antibodies to HIV Types 1 and 2. Full-year reported revenues for the Clinical Diagnostics segment were $1,432.3 million, up 1.7% compared to the same period in 2013. On a currency-neutral basis, full-year sales increased 2.9% compared to 2013.

2014 Full-Year Highlights

• Full-year, sales were $2,175.0 million compared to $2,132.7 million in 2013. After normalizing for the impact of currency effects, full year revenues increased 3.3%.
• Year-over-year net income was $88.8 million, or $3.05 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $77.8 million, or $2.69 per share in 2013.
• In April, Bio-Rad purchased GnuBIO, a droplet-based DNA sequencing technology that is intended to integrate workflow for medical diagnostics.
• Also during the second quarter, Bio-Rad announced the launch of two new kits for its fully-automated BioPlex^® 2200 system: the BioPlex^® 2200 HIV Ag-Ab kit, a first-in-class 5^th generation HIV test, and the BioPlex^® 2200 25-OH Vitamin D kit. Both kits were launched in markets outside the U.S.
• In September, Bio-Rad introduced ZOE™ Fluorescent Cell Imager, a digital imaging system that simplifies fluorescence imaging for cell culture applications.
• During the fourth quarter Bio-Rad introduced the S3e Cell Sorter, a benchtop platform to improve cell research.
• Also during the fourth quarter, Bio-Rad expanded its family of NGC™ Medium-Pressure Chromatography Systems launching the NGC Discover™ and NGC™ Discover Pro Systems. 
• In November, Bio-Rad received Premarket Application approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Company's Geenius HIV 1/2 Supplemental Assay. 
  
  

Management will discuss these results in a conference call at 2 PM Pacific Standard Time (5 PM Eastern Standard Time) February 26, 2015. Interested parties may access the call at 866-700-6067 within the U.S. or 617-213-8834 outside the U.S., passcode 53419928. A live webcast of the conference call may be accessed on the "Investor Relations" section of www.bio-rad.com under "Quarterly Results."

A replay of the call will be available at 888-286-8010 within the U.S. or 617-801-6888 outside the U.S., passcode 84461033 for seven days following the call. A webcast of the call will be archived on the Bio-Rad site for replay for up to a year and may be accessed under "Quarterly Results" in the "Investor Relations" section of our website.

About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO) and (NYSE: BIO.B) develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative products and solutions for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned for its commitment to quality and customer service among university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, as well as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food safety industries. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and healthcare industry customers through its global network of operations. The company employs more than 7,600 people worldwide and had revenues exceeding $2.1 billion in 2014. For more information, please 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 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. 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 December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
			2014				2013				2014				2013
Net sales			$	598,224			$	602,635			$	2,175,044			$	2,132,694
	Cost of goods sold			280,814				279,886				996,527				954,216
Gross profit				317,410				322,749				1,178,517				1,178,478
	Selling, general and administrative expense			207,537				214,584				808,200				798,070
	Research and development expense			59,287				55,848				220,333				210,952
Income from operations				50,586				52,317				149,984				169,456
	Interest expense			5,000				7,019				22,131				61,271
	Foreign currency exchange losses, net			3,187				2,843				9,305				8,566
	Other (income) expense, net			(3,347	)			(2,055	)			(13,009	)			(12,766	)
Income before income taxes				45,746				44,510				131,557				112,385
	Provision for income taxes			(6,709	)			(14,374	)			(42,712	)			(34,574	)
Net income including noncontrolling interests				39,037				30,136				88,845				77,811
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			-				-				-				(21	)
Net income attributable to Bio-Rad			$	39,037			$	30,136			$	88,845			$	77,790
Basic earnings per share:
	Net income per basic share attributable to Bio-Rad		$	1.35			$	1.05			$	3.08			$	2.72
	Weighted average common shares - basic			29,000				28,708				28,876				28,586
Diluted earnings per share:
	Net income per diluted share attributable to Bio-Rad		$	1.34			$	1.04			$	3.05			$	2.69
	Weighted average common shares - diluted			29,192				28,988				29,133				28,906

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(UNAUDITED)
			December 31,			December 31,
			2014			2013
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	413,251		$	331,551
	Short-term investments			284,384			277,369
	Accounts receivable, net			377,640			422,660
	Inventories, net			470,997			516,245
	Other current assets			170,095			209,654
		Total current assets		1,716,367			1,757,479
Property, plant and equipment, net				428,836			414,401
Goodwill, net				500,441			517,770
Purchased intangibles, net				254,228			266,188
Other assets				441,406			432,952
		Total assets	$	3,341,278		$	3,388,790
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable		$	128,608		$	148,510
	Accrued payroll and employee benefits			153,426			130,658
	Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt			265			1,786
	Income and other taxes payable			35,165			33,555
	Other current liabilities			129,297			172,963
		Total current liabilities		446,761			487,472
Long-term debt, net of current maturities				435,710			435,615
Other long-term liabilities				273,652			278,981
		Total liabilities		1,156,123			1,202,068
		Total stockholders' equity		2,185,155			2,186,722
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	3,341,278		$	3,388,790

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(UNAUDITED)
				Year Ended December 31,
				2014				2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Cash received from customers			$	2,162,520			$	2,090,030
	Cash paid to suppliers and employees				(1,806,526	)			(1,804,028	)
	Interest paid				(20,793	)			(61,233	)
	Income tax payments				(28,939	)			(71,144	)
	Settlement to the SEC and DOJ relating to the FCPA, including interest				(55,050	)			-
	Other operating activities				22,100				15,511
	Net cash provided by operating activities				273,312				169,136
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Payments for acquisitions and long-term investments				(44,627	)			(72,054	)
	Other investing activities				(145,884	)			72,973
	Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities				(190,511	)			919
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Payments on long-term borrowings				(253	)			(300,228	)
	Other financing activities				11,942				(11,469	)
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities				11,689				(311,697	)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash					(12,790	)			9,805
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents					81,700				(131,837	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year					331,551				463,388
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year				$	413,251			$	331,551
Reconciliation of net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income including noncontrolling interests				$	88,845			$	77,811
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
			Depreciation and amortization		149,889				147,157
			Changes in working capital		21,700				(72,950	)
			Other		12,878				17,118
Net cash provided by operating activities				$	273,312			$	169,136

Investor and Financial Contacts:
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Christine Tsingos, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ron Hutton, Vice President and Treasurer
510-724-7000
Email Contact