Date: Jun 02, 1997 Source: Company Data (
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Franklin Lakes, NJ (June 02, 1997)
Becton Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX), the global medical technology corporation, announced today that, following receipt of government approvals and clearances, it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Difco Laboratories Incorporated, a Michigan-based manufacturer of microbiology media and supplies.
Becton Dickinson said the acquisition of Difco will broaden the product array of its microbiology business, Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems, which is based in Sparks, Maryland.
"The acquisition of Difco, with its strong foundation in industrial microbiology, will enable us to reach beyond infectious disease diagnostics and give us a fast entry into the industrial segment, which offers greater worldwide growth potential," said Vincent A. Forlenza, president of BDMS.
Difco has manufacturing and research facilities in the United States in Colorado, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin, and outside the United States in England and Germany. Difco's revenues for the year ended December 31, 1996 (excluding its ESP blood culture business, which was recently sold to AccuMed International, Inc.) were $82 million.
Becton Dickinson manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies and devices and diagnostic systems for use by health care professionals, medical research institutions and the general public. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996, Becton Dickinson had total operating revenues of $2.8 billion and net income of $283 million.
