Beckman Coulter's Q4 Revenues Fall 5.4 Percent as Income Drops 70 Percent
Beckman Coulter reported this week that its fourth-quarter sales fell by 5.4 percent to $655.5 million from $693 million during the year-ago period.
Fourth-quarter consumable sales were up 12 percent, with acquisitions contributing to 3.9 percent of that growth.
Net income for the period decreased 70 percent to $17.8 million from $59.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2004.
Beckman reaffirmed its outlook for 2006 that was stated on Nov. 2, 2005, when the company released its third quarter earnings report. Assuming stable currency, sales should be in the range of $2.53 billion to $2.60 billion, the company said.
For the first quarter of the year, sales should be $555 million to $575 million, Beckman said.
Beckman CEO Scott Garrett said he expects growth in 2006 to be led by placements of the company's DxC 600 and 800 Autochemistry platforms, and of the UniCel DxI 800 immunoassay systems.
Beckman did not break out its R&D spending for the fourth quarter or for the 2005 year.
As of Dec. 31, 2005, Beckman had $57.6 million in cash and cash equivalents.
BD Completes $230M GeneOhm Acquisition
Becton Dickinson this week said it has completed its acquisition of GeneOhm Sciences for $230 million.
The acquisition was finalized in accordance with terms originally disclosed in an announcement on Jan. 10.
BD said in a statement that the acquisition complements its microbiology play and "validates its commitment to expansion in molecular diagnostics."