Fourth-quarter 2012 IBO Lab Equipment/Consumables Sales Index revenues grew 2.1%, 3.4% excluding currency, to $4,316 million. Operating profit advanced 0.4% to $735 million. Operating margin declined 50 basis points to 17.9% of sales. Full-year 2012 Index sales grew 1.6%, 2.6% excluding currency, to $16,472 million. Adjusted operating profit rose 2.7% to $2,889 million. Operating margin slipped 10 basis points to 18.0% of sales.

For the fiscal fourth quarter ending November 30, 2012, revenues for Gerresheimer Life Science Research declined 5.7%, 5.6% organically, to €22.2 million ($28.5 million = € 0.78 = $1) to account for 7% of sales. Currency contributed 4.9% to revenue growth, while the divestment of a Chinese subsidiary lowered growth by 4.8%. Adjusted EBITA climbed 112.5% to € 3.4 million ($4.4 million) as a result of the divested product line, which carried much lower margins. Full-year fiscal 2012 Life Science Research sales improved 8.6%, 2.0% organically, to € 99.6 million ($128.0 million = € 0.78 = $1). Currency added 7.8% to revenue growth, while the sold product line lowered growth by 1.2%. Organic sales benefited from higher demand for reusable laboratory glass. Adjusted EBITA expanded 37.7% to €10.6 million ($13.6 million). Given the uncertainty over US funding, the company anticipates slower growth for the segment for fiscal 2013.

Kewaunee Scientific revenues for the fiscal third quarter ending January 31, grew 27.2% to $27.5 million. Backlog expanded 9.6% to $84.5 million. Domestic and international sales climbed 19.3% and 58.1% to make up 74% and 26% of sales, respectively. Within the US, demand for privately funded projects was strong, but was partially offset by lower capital spending by academic and government customers. International sales were driven primarily by projects in Asia and the Middle East. Cost saving initiatives boosted operating profit to $1.0 million, compared with a loss of $0.2 million. Gross profit margin increased 70 basis points to 18.2% of sales. The company expects sustained growth for the fiscal fourth quarter.

Fiscal second-quarter 2013 sales ending January 31 for Pall’s BioPharmaceuticals unit improved 8.5%, 5.0 organically, to $218.8 million to account for 33% of company sales. The acquisition of ForteBio (see IBO 12/31/11) contributed 4.0% to sales growth, while currency lowered sales growth by 0.5%. The Pharmaceuticals and Laboratory sub-segments accounted for roughly 88% and 12% of BioPharmaceuticals sales, respectively. Pharmaceuticals sales grew 5.0% organically, including 9% organic growth for consumables and an 11.4% decline for systems sales, to make up roughly 83% and 17% of Pharmaceuticals revenue, respectively. Laboratory sales contracted 6.4% organically as a result of weakness in the US and Europe.

Fourth-quarter 2012 sales for Sartorius Lab Products & Services (LPS) grew 16.9% to €66.4 million ($86.2 million = €0.77 = $1), but declined 4% organically. The acquisition of Biohit’s liquid handling business (see IBO 10/31/11) and currency contributed 19% and 2% to sales growth, respectively. LPS adjusted EBITA jumped 32.9% to €10.5 million ($13.6 million).

Full-year Sartorius LPS sales grew 21.1% to €268.9 million ($344.7 million = €0.78 = $1), but declined 2% organically to account for 32% of company sales. The acquisition and currency added 19% and 4% to sales growth, respectively. Orders increased 6% organically to €282 million ($362 million). The decline in organic sales was due to strong growth in 2010, which benefited from significant backlog orders. Consumables and service revenues accounted for approximately a third of LPS sales. Organic sales to Asia/Pacific and North America grew 3.1% and 3.9% to account for 29% and 16% of segment sales, respectively. European sales declined roughly 3% organically to make up 50%. LPS adjusted EBITA climbed 20.0% to €36.9 million ($47.3 million). R&D expenses as a percentage of sales declined due to expanded alliances. For 2013, LPS sales are projected to grow 3%–6% excluding currency.

Fourth-quarter 2012 Sigma-Aldrich Research Chemicals sales improved 1.4%, 1.6% organically, to $431 million. Acquisitions added 1.4% to revenue growth, while currency lowered sales growth by 1.6%. Within Research Chemicals, organic sales for Analytical, Biology, Chemistry and Lab Essentials/Labware products were all higher. Full-year 2012 Research Chemicals sales slipped 0.5% to $1,768 million, but grew 1.7% organically to account for 67% of company revenues. Acquisitions contributed 1.4% to revenue growth, while currency reduced sales growth by 3.6%. Sales of Analytical products grew more than 5% organically. Sales of custom manufactured products for pharmaceutical customers grew in the double digits, and demand for industrial cell culture media products was strong.

Fiscal second-quarter 2013 revenues ending December 31, 2012, for Techne’s Biotechnology segment slipped 0.3% to $69.6 million, but grew 0.5% excluding currency to account for 93% of sales. Sales to US industrial, pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers declined 5.2% to make up 30% of segment revenue. Sales to US academic customer fell 3.9% to represent 14%. Overall, US sales accounted for 55% of Biotechnology revenue. Excluding currency, sales to Europe, China and Pacific Rim distributors (excluding China) grew 2.4%, 12.6% and 3.3% to make up 29%, 5% and 9% of sales, respectively. Adjusted earnings contracted 4.0% to $38.1 million due to increased R&D spending. Gross profit margin declined 30 basis points to 75.5% of segment sales primarily due to currency.

For the fourth quarter 2012, Thermo Fisher Scientific Laboratory Products and Services (LPS) revenue grew 4.5%, 3.0% organically, to $1,499.8 million to account for 46% of company sales. Acquisition added 1.7% to revenue growth, while currency reduced growth by 0.2%. Revenue growth for the research market channel, consumables and clinical trials logistics businesses highlighted the quarter, but was partially offset by lower capital spending by academic and government customers. Adjusted operating profit increased 7.8% to $211.8 million and adjusted operating profit margin advanced 40 basis points to 14.1% of sales. Full-year 2012 LPS revenue rose 3.9%, 4.1% organically, to $5,990.0 million to represent 48% of company sales. Acquisitions added 1.3% to sales growth, while currency lowered growth by 1.5%. Adjusted operating income improved 4.3% to $846.0 million, and adjusted operating profit margin was unchanged at 14.1% of sales.

VWR International fourth-quarter 2012 revenues declined 1.7%, 3% organically, to $1,044.1 million. Adjusted operating profit fell 2.6% to $70.2 million, and gross margin declined 70 basis points to 27.5% of sales. Organic North American Lab (NAL) and European Lab (EL) sales fell 4.0% and 0.6% to make up 56% and 42% of revenues, respectively. Reported sales for Science Education fell 35.7% to account for 2% of revenues. However, excluding a divested product line, sales declined roughly 10%. Adjusted operating incomes for the NAL fell 24.3% to $25.5 million. EL adjusted operating profit grew 9.9% to $49.9 million. Adjusted operating loss for Science Education narrowed 68.6% to $2.2 million.

For 2012, VWR’s revenues declined 0.8%, 1.6% organically, to $ 4,129.4 million. Acquisitions contributed 3.6% to sales growth, while currency lowered growth by 2.7%. Consumables, equipment and instrumentation, chemicals and services accounted for 53%, 23%, 21% and 3% of sales, respectively. Sales to biopharmaceutical, education and government customers made up 38%, 15% and 6% of revenues, respectively. Sales to industrial and other markets represented 41%. Overall, US sales fell 2.5% to account for 50% of revenues. International sales improved 1.2% to make up 49%. Adjusted operating profit fell 2.3% to $268.9 million. Gross profit margin was unchanged at 28.3% of sales. Organic sales for NAL fell 3.4% to account for 58% of sales following the loss of a major pharmaceutical customer earlier in the year. NAL adjusted operating income contracted 13.7% to $124.3 million. EL sales improved 1.8% organically to make up 40% of revenues, and adjusted operating profit advanced 4.0% to $147.5 million. Science Education revenue fell 13.5% to account for 3% of sales due to the divestment of a retail product line and lower sales volume. Segment adjusted operating profit narrowed by 73.1% to $2.9 million.