FISHER SCIENTIFIC 3RD QTR SALES INCREASED MORE THAN 10%.

Fisher Scientific International Inc. (NYSE: FSH), Hampton, N.H., the world leader in serving science, has reported record sales and earnings for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2006, reflecting strong results in both the core scientific-research and healthcare segments.

"We reported a record quarter, with sales, earnings and operating income reaching new highs," said Paul M. Montrone, chairman and chief executive officer. "Our financial results reflect the continued strength of our company and the successful execution of our strategy."

On May 8, Fisher Scientific and Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE: TMO) announced a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. As previously disclosed, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted the companies early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act for the merger. Assuming that the European Commission clears the transaction on Nov. 9, the company expects to complete the merger on that date.

Third-Quarter Reported Results

Sales for the third quarter increased 10.8 percent to $1,508.1 million compared with $1,361.3 million in the corresponding period of 2005. Excluding the effect of foreign exchange, sales totaled $1,492.4 million in the third quarter, a 9.6 percent increase over the same quarter in 2005. Organic growth in the core scientific-research and healthcare markets accelerated from the prior quarter to 8.6 percent. Including the forecasted effect of reduced demand for safety-related products, organic growth was 6.4 percent. In European markets, organic growth was in the high single digits, outpacing market growth, as a result of customer-specific initiatives and programs to expand the company's life science product portfolio. Double-digit growth in Asia was driven primarily by the increased pace of research activity in China.

Third-quarter net income was $151.8 million compared with $93.5 million in the prior-year period. Income from continuing operations for the third quarter increased to $149.3 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, from $94.3 million, or 74 cents per diluted share, in the same period of 2005. Net income and income from continuing operations include $2.0 million, net of tax ($3.3 million pre-tax) of acquisition and integration costs, $0.7 million, net of tax ($1.2 million pre-tax) of restructuring expense, $7.8 million, net of tax ($12.5 million pre-tax) of gain on the sale of investments, and $8.3 million, net of tax ($12.8 million pre-tax) of equity-based compensation expense related to FAS 123R.

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2006, sales totaled $4,386.3 million, a 9.4 percent increase over sales of $4,011.2 million in the corresponding period last year. In the first nine months of 2006, foreign exchange translation had a minimal effect on sales compared with the corresponding period in the prior year. Net income in the first nine months was $377.0 million compared with $271.9 million in the same period of 2005. Income from continuing operations for the first nine months was $376.9 million, or $2.86 per diluted share, compared with $255.9 million, or $2.01 per diluted share in the prior-year period.

During the first nine months of 2006, Fisher generated $423.7 million in cash from operations, primarily reflecting growth in operating earnings. Capital expenditures during the same period were $115.4 million, representing maintenance capital expenditures, investments in the company's life science and managed-services businesses, expansion of distribution capabilities in Europe and the ongoing integration of Apogent manufacturing facilities. In the first nine months, free cash flow, defined as cash from operations less capital expenditures, was $308.3 million, compared with a full-year estimate of $525 million to $550 million.

Adjusted Financial Results

The following discussion excludes nonrecurring and special items and the effect of equity-based compensation expense related to FAS 123R. In the attached supplementary information tables, these items are reconciled to the most directly comparable financial measures computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).

Operating income for the third quarter was $226.9 million, an increase of 21.6 percent, compared with $186.6 million in the same quarter of 2005, reflecting increased sales volume, recent higher-margin acquisitions, productivity initiatives, and incremental synergies from the Apogent merger.

Third-quarter income from continuing operations increased 27.6 percent to $152.5 million compared with $119.5 million in the corresponding period of 2005. The increase primarily reflects growth in operating income and a lower tax rate. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations increased 23.7 percent to $1.15 in the third quarter compared with 93 cents in the same period of 2005. Diluted EPS from continuing operations excluding intangible asset amortization, net of tax, totaled $1.24, a 24.0 percent increase compared with $1.00 in the third quarter last year. Equity-based compensation expense related to FAS 123R was 6 cents per diluted share in the third quarter of 2006.

Operating income for the nine-month period increased 15.9 percent to $628.9 million compared with $542.7 million during the same period in the prior year. Income from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2006 increased 24.4 percent to $415.9 million compared with $334.4 million in the same period of 2005.

Year-to-date diluted EPS from continuing operations was $3.16, an increase of 20.6 percent, compared with $2.62 in the corresponding period of 2005. Diluted EPS from continuing operations excluding intangible asset amortization, net of tax, totaled $3.41, a 21.4 percent increase compared with $2.81 in the same period last year. Equity-based compensation expense was 19 cents per diluted share in the first nine months of 2006.

Business-Segment Results

Sales of scientific products and services in the third quarter increased to $1,165.3 million, a 9.9 percent increase compared with the prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign exchange, third-quarter sales in this segment rose 8.5 percent to $1,150.3 million.

Organic sales growth in the core scientific research market accelerated from the prior quarter to 8.8 percent reflecting strength across all of the company's core customer segments. Including the effect of safety-related products, organic growth in the segment was 6.0 percent. Mid-teens growth from pharma customers reflected strong demand for the company's proprietary product and service offering. Continuing strong market conditions and the company's recent investments in sales and marketing initiatives resulted in more than 20 percent growth from biotech customers. Growth in the academic markets was in the mid single digits, reflecting consistent growth across colleges and universities as well as medical research institutes. Fisher realized mid single-digit growth in the industrial markets driven by customer-specific sales initiatives and the ongoing strength of the U.S. economy. Excluding safety-related products, which continue to be affected by the forecasted slowdown in demand for domestic-preparedness products, sales to government customers increased in the mid-teens, fueled by strong demand from federal government agencies.

In the scientific products and services segment, operating income increased 19.9 percent to $173.8 million from $144.9 million in the corresponding period of 2005, primarily reflecting the benefit of fixed-cost leverage, the sales benefit of investments in R&D and sales and marketing initiatives, contributions from recently completed higher-margin acquisitions and synergies from the Apogent merger.

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2006, sales of scientific products and services increased 9.6 percent to $3,368.2 million compared with $3,074.3 million in the comparable period of 2005. Foreign exchange translation had minimal effect on sales of scientific products and services in the first nine months of 2006 compared with the corresponding period in the prior year.

For the first nine months, operating income in the scientific products and services segment was $476.4 million, representing an increase of 14.4 percent from $416.5 million in the same period in 2005. Third-quarter sales of healthcare products and services totaled $362.1 million, an increase of 14.0 percent compared with the prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign exchange, sales totaled $361.2 million, a 13.8 percent increase from the corresponding period in the prior year. Organic sales growth, excluding foreign exchange, was 8.6 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period last year, representing the third consecutive quarter of accelerating growth. This growth was fueled by increased sales of proprietary diagnostic tests and an increase in outsourcing trends at life science and diagnostic companies.

Operating income increased 27.3 percent to $53.1 million from $41.7 million in the third quarter last year, reflecting fixed-cost leverage, increased productivity and incremental synergies related to the Apogent merger.

For the first nine months, sales of healthcare products and services increased 9.3 percent to $1,072.0 million compared with the first nine months of 2005. Excluding the effect of foreign exchange, sales totaled $1,072.9 million, a 9.4 percent increase compared with the first nine months of 2005. Year-to-date operating income increased 20.8 percent to $152.6 million from $126.3 million in the corresponding period last year.

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