Headquarters: 4300 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton
Employees: 10,563; 2,074 in OC
Business: medical testing, research products
Market value, as of April 1: $4 billion
Revenue for 12 months ended Dec. 31: $2.8 billion, up 9%
Net income for 12 months ended Dec. 31: $211 million, up 13%
Year in review:
Beckman Coulter had a solid, eventful 2007.
The company’s dominant business selling machines and supplies to hospitals and medical testing labs helped drive higher sales and profits. Its smaller business selling gear to medical researchers slowed in the later half of the year.
Chief Executive Scott Garrett’s ongoing restructuring continued with the closure of a metal shop at the company’s Fullerton headquarters.
The company also made acquisitions and saw some acquisition-related drama.
In December, the company bought Dako Denmark AS’ flow cytometry instrumentation business, which is used by researchers to examine and sort microscopic cells suspended in blood or other fluid. Terms weren’t disclosed.
In November, the company bought the remaining 80% of NexGen Diagnostics LLC, a Southfield, Mich.-based company, for $36 million. Beckman already owned 20% of NexGen by way of its 2006 buy of Lumigen Inc., which spun off NexGen.
Another deal got away from Beckman.
Early in the year, the company was involved in a six-week chase for Biosite Inc. of San Diego. Beckman first offered $1.55 billion for Biosite,a 53% premium at the time,and later upped its bid to $1.64 billion amid rival offers from Inverness Medical Innovations Inc. of Waltham, Mass. Beckman bowed out in May, with Biosite, a maker of diagnostic tests for heart disease, going to Inverness.
Siemens AG’s July buy of Beckman rival Dade Behring Holdings Inc. sparked talk about an acquisition of Beckman, the only stand-alone maker of medical testing gear left.
Talk quelled a few months later when
one analyst called the chances of a buyout
unlikely.
What’s ahead:
Look for continued growth in Beckman’s dominant business selling to medical testing labs and hospitals. The company’s clinical diagnostics business makes up 80% of revenue and is growing about 10% a year.
Beckman’s business selling to medical researchers at universities and drug makers is flat. It makes up about 20% of sales.
For growth, Beckman is looking to expand the number of tests that can be run on its machines, particularly what it calls “higher value” tests.
The company also is looking to grow with other types of testing. It wants to bring advanced genetic testing, known as molecular diagnostics, to everyday laboratories.
This year, Beckman is set to start on what stands to be a big symbolic change: moving its headquarters from Fullerton to Brea. In terms of distance, the move is a matter of miles. But it means the company will leave its home for the past 54 years. Founder Arnold O. Beckman, an Orange County icon who died in 2004 at the age of 104, moved the company from South Pasadena in 1954.
Wall Street’s Take:
After a big run-up last year, Beckman’s shares have pulled back this year with the broader market downturn. They’re down about 10% so far this year. Most analysts who follow the company expect Beckman to perform in line with its peers. In December, Banc of America Securities upped its rating on Beckman from “neutral” to “buy.” Wall Street on average expects Beckman to post a profit of $231 million this year, which would be up nearly 10% from 2007. Sales are seen coming in at $3 billion, up 9%.
,
Mike Lyster
WHO’S IN CHARGE
SCOTT GARRETT
Chief executive, Beckman Coulter
Joined Company:
2002
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Valparaiso University in Indiana, master’s in business from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Career:
Spent nearly 20 years with Baxter International Inc. and its 1985 acquisition, American Hospital Supply Corp. Before coming to Beckman, Garrett headed investment firm Garrett Capital Advisors LLC.
Notable:
Named chairman in February.
