MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Techne Corporation's (NASDAQ:TECH) consolidated net earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 decreased 6.4% to $26.8 million or $.72 per diluted share compared with $28.6 million or $.74 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The decline in net earnings was mainly due to foreign currency fluctuations, decreased consolidated net sales and lower interest income. Foreign currency fluctuations and general economic conditions continued to have a negative impact on consolidated net sales and earnings in the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The change in exchange rates used to convert foreign currencies (primarily British pound sterling and euros) to U.S. dollars reduced net earnings by $566,000 ($.01 per diluted share) for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the same prior-year period. Consolidated net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $66.5 million, a 4.0% decrease from the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Consolidated net sales were negatively affected by the strength of the U.S. dollar as compared to foreign currencies. Excluding the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales decreased 2.2% for the quarter ended September 30 from the comparable prior-year period. Biotechnology net sales, which include sales by R&D Systems' Biotechnology Division, R&D Systems China and BiosPacific, were $44.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, a decrease of 4.6% from the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The Company attributes the lower sales growth rate to continued customer caution in a time of economic uncertainty and the exceptionally strong growth rate of 18.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2008. North American biotechnology sales to industrial pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers declined approximately 12.8% during the first quarter of fiscal 2010 as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Biotechnology sales to North American academic customers and Pacific Rim distributors each grew about 3.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Biotechnology sales in China grew 30.1% during the first quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the same prior-year period. R&D Europe's net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $17.8 million, a decrease of 5.8% from the same prior-year period. R&D Europe's net sales increased 0.8% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 when measured at currency rates in effect in the comparable prior period. Hematology net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $4.7 million, an increase of 9.9% compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Consolidated gross margins were 80.6% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 compared to 81.1% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The decrease in gross margin percent in the quarter was primarily caused by lower gross margins in Europe resulting from comparatively unfavorable exchange rates. The consolidated gross margin percent for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 increased from the quarter ended June 30, 2009 gross margin percentage of 77.4% as a result of higher gross margins in Europe resulting from comparatively favorable exchange rates and an improvement in Hematology gross margins due to higher sales volume. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 decreased $802,000 (9.1%) from the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses from the comparable prior-year period was the result of lower profit sharing expense of $635,000 and the effect of the change in exchange rates used to convert foreign expenses to U.S. dollars of $198,000. Interest income decreased $1.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 from the comparable prior-year period primarily as a result of lower rates of return on cash and available-for-sale investments. The effective tax rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 was 32.6% compared to 33.4% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The U.S. credit for research and development expired at the end of calendar 2007 and was not renewed until the quarter ended December 31, 2008, resulting in a higher effective tax rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Forward Looking Statements: Our press releases may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of operations. The following important factors, among others, have affected and, in the future, could affect the Company's actual results: the introduction and acceptance of new biotechnology and hematology products, the levels and particular directions of research by the Company's customers, the impact of the growing number of producers of biotechnology research products and related price competition, general economic conditions, the retention of hematology OEM and proficiency survey business, the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations, and the costs and results of research and product development efforts of the Company and of companies in which the Company has invested or with which it has formed strategic relationships. For additional information concerning such factors, see the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements we make in our press releases due to new information or future events. Investors are cautioned not to place undue emphasis on these statements. Techne Corporation has two operating subsidiaries: Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (R&D Systems) of Minneapolis, Minnesota and R&D Systems Europe, Ltd. (R&D Europe) of Abingdon, England. R&D Systems is a specialty manufacturer of biological products. R&D Systems has two subsidiaries, BiosPacific, Inc. (BiosPacific), located in Emeryville, California and R&D Systems China Co. Ltd., (R&D China), located in Shanghai, China. BiosPacific is a worldwide supplier of biologics to manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic systems and immunodiagnostic kits. R&D China and R&D Europe distribute biotechnology products. TECHNE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) QUARTER ENDED ---------------- 9/30/09 9/30/08 ------- ------- Net sales $66,534 $69,324 Cost of sales 12,901 13,086 ------ ------ Gross margin 53,633 56,238 ------ ------ Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative 8,038 8,840 Research and development 6,154 5,910 Amortization of intangible assets 240 240 --- --- Total operating expenses 14,432 14,990 ------ ------ Operating income 39,201 41,248 Other income (expense): Interest income 1,168 2,887 Other non-operating expense, net (662) (1,187) ----- ------- Total other income 506 1,700 --- ----- Earnings before income taxes 39,707 42,948 Income taxes 12,935 14,355 ------ ------ Net earnings $26,772 $28,593 ======= ======= Earnings per share: Basic $0.72 $0.74 Diluted $0.72 $0.74 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 37,245 38,624 Diluted 37,339 38,747 TECHNE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited) ASSETS 9/30/09 6/30/09 ------ ------ ------- Cash and equivalents $174,757 $160,940 Short-term available-for-sale investments 52,518 41,947 Trade accounts receivable 30,334 29,516 Other receivables 1,391 1,637 Inventory 12,468 11,269 Other current assets 10,416 10,158 ------ ------ Current assets 281,884 255,467 ------- ------- Available-for-sale investments 52,612 61,863 Property and equipment, net 98,806 100,133 Goodwill and intangible assets, net 27,832 28,072 Other non-current assets 25,912 26,470 ------ ------ Total assets $487,046 $472,005 ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY ------------------------------------ Current liabilities $16,040 $15,523 Stockholders' equity 471,006 456,482 ------- ------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $487,046 $472,005 ======== ======== DATASOURCE: Techne Corporation CONTACT: Greg Melsen, Chief Financial Officer, or Kathy Backes, Controller, both of Techne Corporation, +1-612-379-8854

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