UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K
 
(mark one)
x
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 or

o
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission file number 1-8002
 
 
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
Delaware
04-2209186
 
 
(State of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
       
 
81 Wyman Street, P.O. Box 9046
   
 
Waltham, Massachusetts
02454-9046
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 622-1000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
 
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
 
 
Common Stock, $1.00 par value
 
New York Stock Exchange
 
 
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
 
New York Stock Exchange
 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for at least the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

As of June 30, 2006, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant was approximately $5,699,169,000 (based on the last reported sale of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape reporting system on June 30, 2006).
 
As of February 2, 2007, the Registrant had 420,030,996 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Sections of Thermo Fisher’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Parts II and III of this report.
 


 

THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
     Page
 
PART I
     
Item 1.
 3            
     
Item 1A.
23
     
Item 1B.
30
     
Item 2.
30
     
Item 3.
31
     
Item 4.
32
     
PART II
     
Item 5.
32
     
Item 6.
33
     
Item 7.
34
     
Item 7A.
52
     
Item 8.
53
     
Item 9.
53
     
Item 9A.
53
     
Item 9B.
54
     
PART III
   
 
Item 10.
54
     
Item 11.
55
     
Item 12.
55
     
Item 13.
55
     
Item 14.
55
     
PART IV
     
Item 15.
55
     


 
Item 1.

General Development of Business

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (also referred to in this document as “Thermo Fisher,” “we,” the “company,” or the “registrant”) is the world leader in serving science. We enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer by providing analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software and services for research, manufacturing, analysis, discovery and diagnostics.

In November 2006, Thermo Electron Corporation (also referred to in this document as “Thermo,” which is the predecessor to Thermo Fisher) merged with Fisher Scientific International Inc. (also referred to in this document as “Fisher”) to create the world leader in serving science. Thermo Fisher has 30,500 employees and serves more than 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental, industrial quality and process control settings.

We deliver a broad selection of analytical instruments, equipment, consumables and laboratory supplies. Our growing portfolio of products includes innovative technologies for mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, molecular spectroscopy, sample preparation, informatics, fine and high-purity chemistry production, cell culture, RNA interference analysis and immunodiagnostic testing, as well as air and water quality monitoring and process control. We also give our customers convenient purchasing options, through our 7,500 sales and service professionals, numerous catalogs and e-commerce capabilities.

We are continuously advancing the capabilities of our technologies, software and services, as well as our supply-chain management expertise. Our goal is to make our customers more productive and to enable them to solve their analytical challenges, from routine testing to complex research and discovery.

In the late 1980s, Thermo adopted a strategy of spinning out certain businesses into separate public subsidiaries in which we kept a majority ownership. By 1997, we had spun out 22 public entities serving many diverse markets. To simplify our structure, we announced in January 2000 a major reorganization that ultimately resulted in taking private all of our public subsidiaries, selling non-core businesses and spinning off our paper recycling and medical products businesses. As part of the reorganization, we divested of businesses with aggregate annual revenues of over $2 billion. This reorganization was substantially completed in February 2002, when we took private our last publicly traded subsidiary. In July 2004, we sold Spectra-Physics, Inc., our optical technologies segment. The businesses spun off and sold have been accounted for as discontinued operations. Except where indicated, the information presented in this report pertains to our continuing operations.

Thermo Fisher is a Delaware corporation and was incorporated in 1956. The company completed its initial public offering in 1967 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1980.

Forward-looking Statements

Forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), are made throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. While the company may elect to update forward-looking statements in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if the company’s estimates change, and readers should not rely on those forward-looking statements as representing the company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of the filing of this report.

A number of important factors could cause the results of the company to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including those detailed under the heading, “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A.


 
Business Segments and Products

We report our business in two segments: Analytical Technologies and Laboratory Products and Services. For financial information about segments, including domestic and international operations and export sales, see Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, which begin on page F-1 of this report.

Analytical Technologies Segment

We serve the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, government and other research and industrial markets, as well as the clinical laboratory and healthcare industries, through our Analytical Technologies segment. This segment has six principal product groupings - Scientific Instruments, Biosciences, Integrative Technologies, Diagnostics, Environmental Instruments and Process Instruments - and provides a broad range of instruments, bioscience reagents, software and services to address various scientific challenges in laboratories, in manufacturing and out in the field.

·  
Our Scientific Instruments include analytical instrumentation that analyzes prepared samples.

·  
Our Biosciences products include a wide range of consumables and services across general chemistry and life sciences applications.

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Our Integrative Technologies offerings include software interpretation tools and development support for the data generated by the instruments as well as laboratory automation equipment and systems.

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Our Diagnostics products and services are used by healthcare and other laboratories to prepare and analyze patient samples to detect and diagnose diseases.

·  
Our Environmental Instruments include solutions and services for environmental monitoring, safety and security.

·  
Our Process Instruments provide measurement solutions and services outside the laboratory to enable process control and optimization.

Scientific Instruments 

Our analytical instrumentation is used primarily in laboratory and industrial settings and incorporates a range of techniques, including mass spectrometry (MS), chromatography and optical spectroscopy, and can be combined with a range of accessories, consumables, software, spectral reference databases, services and support to provide a complete solution to the customer. Mass spectrometry is a technique for analyzing chemical compounds, individually or in complex mixtures, by forming gas phase charged ions that are then analyzed according to mass-to-charge ratios. In addition to molecular information, each discrete chemical compound generates a fragmentation pattern that provides structurally diagnostic information. Chromatography is a technique for separating, identifying and quantifying individual chemical components of substances based on physical and chemical characteristics specific to each component. Optical spectroscopy is a technique for analyzing individual chemical components of substances based on the absorption or emission of electromagnetic radiation of a specific wavelength of light, for example, visible (light), ultraviolet or infra-red.

In life sciences markets, we offer a line of mass spectrometers (MS) including ion traps, quadrupoles and other advanced mass spectrometers, as well as liquid chromatographs (LCs) and columns, and multi-instrument combinations of these products as integrated solutions (LC-MS). These systems are tailored to meet the rigorous demands of lab professionals in applications such as drug discovery, life science research and analytical quantitation.

 
Ion Trap MS. The company’s ion trap mass spectrometry product line features a tiered portfolio to support a wide spectrum of analytical requirements. These instruments support applications ranging from compound identification and routine high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detection to sophisticated analysis of low-abundance components in complex biological matrices.

·  
LTQ FTTM - Combines our most advanced ion trap and Fourier Transform (FT) Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR) technologies into a single instrument with superior analytical power and versatility. The system uniquely combines high resolution, accurate mass determinations and MSn (mass spectrometry to the nth power) for high-throughput analysis on a single instrument.

·  
LTQ OrbitrapTM - Combines our most advanced ion trap with our patented Orbitrap technology, providing high resolution and accurate mass determinations over a broad dynamic range for the analysis of complex biological mixtures.

·  
LTQ XLTM - Based on a 2-dimensional (2-D) linear ion trap design and incorporating patented innovative technologies and ease-of-use features, this system is primarily used for metabolic profiling and proteomics research.

·  
LXQTM - Based on a 2-D linear ion trap design, this system provides high-throughput performance for drug discovery, forensics and proteomics applications.

·  
LCQ Deca XP MAXTM - Used primarily for rapid metabolite identification, peptide mapping and complex mixture analysis. It features the Ion MaxTM, front-end ion source, which provides ruggedness and full scan sensitivity, making it a valuable tool for analysis of in-vivo and in-vitro samples.

·  
LCQ Advantage MAXTM - An ion trap mass spectrometer that integrates the power of MS/MS with an LC system, boosting analytical power with library searchable MS/MS spectra for reliable compound identification. This instrument delivers high productivity for routine HPLC environments.

Triple Quadrupole MS. The company’s TSQ Quantum Series consists of an advanced portfolio of triple quadrupole mass spectrometers.

·  
TSQ Quantum AccessTM - A versatile, entry-level mass spectrometer that is used in environmental and food safety laboratories.

·  
TSQ Quantum Discovery MAXTM - This high-performance, ultra-compact benchtop MS system incorporates innovative technology for increased sensitivity, precision, ruggedness and reliability. It is principally designed for high-productivity environments such as environmental, clinical and drug discovery laboratories. With the Ion Max source, the TSQ Quantum Discovery MAX addresses the needs of these laboratories for more rugged and dependable LC/MS/MS to enable around-the-clock productivity.

·  
TSQ Quantum UltraTM - An advanced instrument used primarily for bioanalytical studies. It features the Ion Max source with interchangeable electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) probes for increased robustness and sensitivity.

In December 2006, we expanded our sample preparation capabilities for mass spectrometry with the acquisition of Cohesive Technologies, a manufacturer of advanced sample extraction and liquid chromatography products, which are used with triple quadrupole mass spectrometers in bioanalysis and drug discovery.



TM Represents a trademark or service mark of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. or its subsidiaries.
 


A significant and growing application for our technologically advanced mass spectrometers is proteomics, the study of proteins. Most drugs - about 90 percent - interact with proteins, so multi-instrument systems that can rapidly identify and quantify proteins are of increasing value to pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. The introduction of ETD (Electron Transfer Dissociation) on our LTQ XL ion trap machine extends the range of techniques for proteomics researchers and enables routine analysis of protein modifications. We continue to introduce new systems that address the breadth of primary analytical needs for high-throughput analysis including bioanalysis and proteomics research, as well as for other growing life science areas such as:

·  
Biomarkers - compounds that may be endogenous and signal the early onset of a specific disease.

·  
ADME/Tox - Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicology studies that are conducted for drug discovery in support of human clinical trials.

·  
Metabalomics - measurement of the real biochemical status, dynamics, interactions and regulation of whole systems or organisms at a molecular level.

In addition, Thermo Fisher offers a broad range of advanced magnetic sector instrumentation for high-resolution MS. This range also covers organic MS, gas isotope ratio MS and thermal ionization MS.

Liquid Chromatography. Our HPLC systems, such as the high speed Accela HPLC, Surveyor PlusTM and SpectraSYSTEMTM, offer high throughput and sensitivity. They are sold as stand-alone instrumentation (HPLC) or as integrated systems with our mass spectrometers (LC-MS). The Surveyor MSQTM Plus is a single quadrupole LC-MS system used primarily in pharmaceutical laboratories as a detector, providing chromatographers the ability to run routine HPLC applications more efficiently. These products utilize our comprehensive line of HPLC columns, including HYPERSILTM Gold, HyPurityTM and Aquasil columns.

In January 2007, we acquired Spectronex, a European-based supplier of mass spectrometry, chromatography and surface science instrumentation, as well as Flux Instruments, a manufacturer of high performance liquid chromatography pumps and software.

Beyond life sciences markets, our chemical analysis instrumentation, including our gas chromatography, elemental analysis and molecular spectroscopy instrumentation, uses various separation and optical spectroscopy techniques to determine the elemental and molecular composition of a wide range of complex liquids and solids.

Gas Chromatography. Gas chromatography is a separation technique used to analyze complex samples in the form of gases. Thermo Fisher’s high performance and reliable line of gas chromatographs (GCs) includes our Trace GC Ultra, a versatile laboratory GC with a full range of detectors, injectors, and valve systems; our FOCUS GC, which is a single-channel GC; our Trace GCxGC for analysis of target compounds in complex matrices; and autosamplers, including our TriPlusTM Autosampler, that provide a robotic sampling solution to a GC laboratory. We also offer chromatography data system software, detectors and various accessories such as GC columns to complete our gas phase chromatography offering.

Our GC offering is also incorporated into our GC mass spectrometry (GC-MS) product line, which pairs a mass spectrometer detector with a GC front end. In 2006, we introduced the DSQTM II, a GC/MS product based on the platform of Thermo Fisher’s DSQ and PolarisQ GC/MS systems. The DSQ II incorporates the new DynaMax XR ion detection system and the DuraBriteTM ion source. The PolarisQ Ion Trap MSn offers affordable tandem mass spectrometry at the sensitivity of GC-specific detectors.
 

 
Elemental Analysis. Thermo Fisher also offers a line of elemental analysis instrumentation used to analyze elements in liquid samples. This product line includes our combustion analyzers, M & S Series atomic absorption (AA) systems, the new iCAP 6000 Series of benchtop inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometers, and X Series 2 and Element2 ICP mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) systems. Environmental laboratories, geochemical and clinical/toxicology laboratories often employ these techniques, as well as many other industrial laboratories.

Thermo Fisher provides a full range of instrumentation that also performs the elemental analysis of solids, including our ARL arc spark product line based on optical emission spectroscopy (OES), our benchtop and standalone ARL X-ray fluorescence (XRF) systems for bulk analysis, our ARL X-ray diffractometry (XRD) systems, our X-ray microspectroscopy offering, our glow discharge MS system and our Auger and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) systems for surface analysis.

Our product line also includes our Niton portable XRF analyzers. These portable elemental analyzers are state-of-the-art handheld instruments offering high-performance analysis of metal alloys for positive material identification, scrap metal recycling, QA/QC and precious metals analysis, as well as analysis of soils and sediments, environmental monitoring, lead in paint assessment, geochemical mapping and coatings/plating analysis. The Niton Xli, XLp and XLt Series product lines are designed for the rapid on-site testing of metals for numerous industrial applications, including mining, coatings, precious metals and powder samples.

Molecular Spectroscopy. Thermo Fisher is also a leader in analytical instrumentation involving spectroscopic analysis of molecular structures. Our NicoletTM Series research grade Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Nicolet 380 FT-IR systems provide a complete analytical offering in FT-IR spectroscopy, from routine QA/QC applications to advanced research work across many industries. Thermo Fisher has built on this technology with a broad range of IR spectroscopy and imaging systems such as its ContinuµmTM XL and CentaurusTM IR microscope systems. Complementing FT-IR analysis capabilities, we also offer dispersive and FT-Raman systems for additional vibrational spectroscopic analysis of large samples or analysis down to a single micron. Thermo Fisher also designs, manufactures and markets visible and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectrophotometers.

Customers for Thermo Fisher’s chemical analysis instrumentation include environmental, pharmaceutical, polymer, petrochemical, food, semiconductor, energy, coatings, geological, steel and basic materials producers who frequently use these instruments for quality assurance and quality control applications, primarily in a laboratory.

Services. We have an extensive service network to support our installed base of instruments across the globe. In addition, we provide a broad range of services, including multi-vendor laboratory instrument services, such as instrument qualifications; preventive and corrective maintenance; validation, regulatory compliance and metrology; as well as instrument/equipment asset management services with solutions that deliver instrument and equipment maintenance management, physical inventory tracking and enterprise-wide maintenance reporting to help customers improve the cost/performance of their instrumentation, equipment and facilities.

Biosciences 

Our broad range of Biosciences products include fine and high-purity chemistry products, microbiological culture media, proprietary protein, DNA, cell-culture products and sterile liquid-handling systems. These products are used across the general chemistry and life sciences arenas primarily for scientific research and drug discovery, as well as clinical and industrial testing and biopharmaceutical research and production. Our Biosciences products are sold under proprietary product names such as Acros OrganicsTM, MaybridgeTM, HyCloneTM, PierceTM, DharmaconTM, ABgeneTM, OxoidTM and RemelTM.
 

 
Global Chemicals

Our Global Chemicals solutions provide chemistry-based applications to scientists involved in analysis, research and development, and manufacturing. Our broad product portfolio includes our Acros Organics chemicals, which are used in basic research and manufacturing applications to synthesize new and interesting materials. These products are supplied in pre-pack and semi-bulk quantities and are used across all types of chemistry in a range of products, including cosmetics, foods, fragrances, flavors, drugs and coatings. Our Maybridge products, which include innovative drug-like molecules and screening compounds, are used by scientists designing new chemical compounds for pharmaceutical drugs. Our Fisher ChemicalTM products help scientists purify, extract, separate, identify and/or manufacture products. These products are used across a range of industries, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, electronic, and environmental. Our Fisher BioReagentsTM products are used in many different laboratory applications, from cell growth to detailed protein analysis, to help scientists understand functions within living organisms. Our Fine and Custom Chemistry unit provides bulk sizes of our various products when customers scale-up from research to development and production. The primary markets served are pharmaceutical, life sciences and high technology.

Life Science Research (LSR)

Our Life Science Research products provide innovative technologies and services globally through Genomic Technologies, RNA Technologies, Cell Pathways & Proteomics, and Molecular Biology Reagents lines. Our offering includes a wide range of proprietary protein-research and cell-culture products; nucleic-acid technologies; reagents for high-content cellular screening; reliable, high-quality RNA oligonucleotides; small-interfering RNA and related RNA-interference products; and plastic consumables. We serve the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as well as diagnostics companies, clinical laboratories, colleges and universities, government and industrial customers. Our Genomic Technologies products, sold under the ABgene name, are used to measure nucleic acids with high precision and sensitivity, enabling researchers to gain a better understanding of the control mechanisms inside a cell. Used in the study of cancer, metabolic diseases, in epidemiological studies and in agriculture research, our products provide a better understanding of the mechanisms in cells, enabling scientists to shorten the drug development process. Our RNA Technologies products, sold under the Dharmacon name, are used by scientists conducting basic research to understand the function of genes and their role in biological processes. A primary focus of research using RNAi technology is to understand the biological basis of human disease. The Dharmacon products are also used in the drug discovery process to aid in the identification and validation of new drug targets. Our Cell Pathways and Proteomics products, sold under the Pierce, BioImageTM, EndogenTM and SearchLightTM names, enable the effective and efficient study of the biology of proteins, and offer unique cell-based assays and services for high-content pathway analysis.

BioProcess Production

Our BioProcess Production offerings include cell-culture and bioprocessing products used in the production of animal and human viral vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, skin replacement and protein-based drugs. The product line is used in research and academic markets for cellular interaction studies, toxicity testing, antiviral, and anticancer studies. Our HyClone product offering includes leading cell-culture products (sera, classical media, serum-free and protein-free media, and process liquids) and bioprocessing systems for life science research and protein-based drug production. The line includes flexible, single-use BioProcess ContainerTM (BPCTM) systems, which are sterile, disposable bags specifically designed for transporting, mixing, dispensing, and storing sterile liquids and powders. Under the TC TechTM name, we also provide sterile fluid-handling bags used to transfer, transport and store bioprocess liquids in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing process as well as tubing, fittings, connectors and flexible single-use containers specifically qualified for use in bioscience applications in the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic industries. Products, including cell-culture media, sera, process liquids and reagents, as well as single-use BioProcess Container systems, are provided in a variety of sizes ranging from small volumes up to tens of thousands of liters of specialized products in large vessels for full-scale production.
 

 
Microbiology

Our Microbiology offerings include high-quality microbiology laboratory products, including dehydrated and prepared culture media, collection and transport systems, diagnostic and rapid direct specimen tests, quality-control products and associated products for the microbiology market. Our products focus on aiding customers in the diagnosis of disease or potential contamination of their products or manufacturing facilities. Our Oxoid products are used by microbiologists worldwide to grow and identify bacteria. Within the clinical field, these products facilitate a rapid and accurate diagnosis of infectious disease and provide a recommendation of effective antibiotic treatment. Within the food and pharmaceutical industries, Oxoid products are used to assure the safety and quality of consumer products by monitoring production environments, raw materials and end products for bacterial contamination. Our Remel products are used worldwide by clinical laboratories, including hospitals, reference labs, clinics, and physician offices to quickly and accurately generate results for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and by industrial and research laboratories, such as food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical and biotech industries to monitor air quality, production processes, raw materials and finished products to assure the safety and quality of consumer products.

Integrative Technologies 

Our Integrative Technologies offerings provide integrated solutions for customers in regulated and unregulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, petrochemicals, chemicals, and food and beverage utilizing our broad capabilities in laboratory equipment, instrumentation, consumables, reagents and software. Our products include laboratory information management systems (LIMS), chromatography data systems (CDS), database analytical tools, automation systems, microplate instrumentation and automated imaging systems. To support our global installations, we provide implementation, validation, training, maintenance and support from our large global services network.

Informatics

         Thermo Fisher develops and provides LIMS solutions that provide application-specific, purpose-built functionality in software targeted for certain industries. These industries include pharmaceutical, petrochemical, chemical, food and beverage, metals and mining, environmental and water/wastewater, as well as government and academia. Thermo Fisher is a leader in developing commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions designed for specific industry applications. Providing basic requirements as standard functionality reduces risk for our customers and eases implementation, validation and training, while lowering total cost of ownership. More recently, we have focused our design and development on open standards. Moving to an open, service-oriented computing architecture based on Microsoft® .NET creates more interoperability so our systems can enable end-to-end process workflows. Our flagship LIMS, called SampleManager, moved to the .NET platform, incorporated Service-Oriented Architecture, enhanced Web interfacing, and added support for the Microsoft® SQL Server 2005 database in addition to Oracle’s database option. Our Darwin LIMSTM is also based on .NET. Other products within the portfolio will be moved to .NET, migrating away from proprietary programming languages while continuing to support existing customers’ use of such programming.

Our portfolio includes SampleManager LIMSTM, an enterprise solution used in laboratories at leading companies in the pharmaceutical, oil and gas, environmental, chemical and food and beverage industries; WatsonTM LIMS, for pharmaceutical bioanalytical laboratories; GalileoTM LIMS designed specifically for ADME and in-vitro testing in early drug discovery and development; Nautilus LIMSTM, used in a range of industrial applications and increasingly by biotechnology laboratories because of its configurability, patented workflows and plate-handling capabilities; and Darwin LIMS for pharmaceutical manufacturing R&D and QA/QC. In addition, we market the Atlas CDSTM, a multi-industry enterprise-class system that is tightly integrated with our LIMS solutions for greater accuracy and consistent reporting of shared data, as well as increased productivity.

We also provide a global services network of experienced consultants who provide a broad range of services focused on the successful implementation of our customers projects. These services include project planning, management of user workshops, defining business requirements, milestone delivery, systems integration, workflow modeling and validation consultancy.
 

 
Laboratory Automation Solutions

Thermo Fisher is a leading innovator of automation systems that provide solutions for the drug discovery market. With core competencies in integration, applications and innovation, we work closely with customers to develop both turnkey products and tailored systems for genomic/proteomic, biochemical and drug discovery applications. Our key technologies include automated storage, integration platforms, robotics and software. Advanced automated storage systems offer both low- and high-volume capacities with full environmental control; integration platforms range from stand-alone plate stackers and movers to multifunctional three-dimensional platforms with robotic arms, advanced analytical equipment and software for experiment design, control and analysis; microplate instrumentation encompasses a complete range of high-performance plate readers, washers and bulk dispensers. Precise and reliable motion control is achieved through state-of-the-art robotics that improve throughput and walk-away time. The company’s software platforms schedule and control all robotics and third-party instrumentation. These software platforms integrate with LIMS and other informatics systems to enable efficient workflow and data management. Our automated platforms can incorporate imagers, liquid handlers, bulk dispensers, incubators, microplate stackers, automated storage products and vertical loading robotics.

Cellular Imaging and Analysis

Thermo Fisher is a leading provider of complete systems for high-content screening (HCS) and analysis (HCA) used by drug discovery and systems-biology researchers. Our CellomicsTM platform includes automated imaging instrumentation (ArrayScanTM VTI HCS Reader and the cellWoRxTM High Content Cell Analysis System), BioApplication image analysis software and High Content Informatics (HCiTM), fully integrated to improve the quality and productivity of cell-based assays. Our proprietary platforms are in use at multiple sites within the top 15 pharmaceutical companies, as well as at leading biotechnology companies and academic centers throughout the world. These products enable customers to develop new and effective therapies to treat, cure and prevent diseases and are utilized by scientists in drug discovery companies and basic research institutions to look at how drug candidates and targets of interest affect live cells. For drug discovery companies, these experiments enable scientists to determine the best drug candidates and to ultimately shorten the drug discovery process. For basic research scientists, these experiments enable scientists to explore all aspects of cell biology in a fast, quantitative fashion. These technologies are used in a range of drug discovery and in therapeutic areas such as neurobiology, toxicology, cancer biology and cell biology.

Diagnostics 

Our Diagnostics products and services are used by the diagnostics community, including healthcare laboratories in hospitals, academic and research institutes, to prepare and analyze patient samples such as blood, urine, body fluids or tissue sections, to detect and diagnose diseases, such as cancer.

Clinical Diagnostics

Our clinical diagnostics products include a broad offering of liquid, ready-to-use and lyophilized immunodiagnostics reagent kits, calibrators, controls and calibration verification fluids. In particular, we provide products used for drugs-of-abuse testing; therapeutic drug monitoring, including immunosuppressant drug testing; thyroid hormone testing; serum toxicology; clinical chemistry; immunology; hematology; coagulation; glucose tolerance testing; monitoring and toxicology. Many of these products are sold under their industry-recognized brand names such as: CEDIATM, DRITM, CASCOTM, MASTM, QMSTM and Duke ScientificTM. In many instances, we will work with customers or partners to develop new products and applications for their instrument platforms. We have developed one of the broadest menus for drugs-of-abuse immunoassays, including those for newer drugs such as Oxycodone, Heroin Metabolite and Buprenorphine. We also offer a complete line of Immunosuppressant Drug immunoassays that can be used on a variety of clinical chemistry analyzers. Our clinical chemistry and automation systems include analyzers
 

 
and reagents to analyze and measure routine blood and urine chemistry, such as glucose and cholesterol; and advanced testing for specific proteins, therapeutic drug monitoring and drugs of abuse. Our diagnostic test range currently covers approximately 80 different validated methods. We also provide pre- and post-analytical automation for preparation of blood specimens before and after analysis. In other analytical laboratory fields, our reagents and automated photometric analyzers are used for colorimetric and enzymatic analysis and quality control in food and beverage, wine and pharmaceutical production. In addition to our own sales channels, our clinical chemistry and automation systems are distributed by some of the leading diagnostic manufacturers, such as Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics and Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (OCD).

Anatomical Pathology

We provide a broad portfolio of products for use primarily in immunochemistry, histology, cytology and hematology applications. These products include consumables for specimen collection, tissue processing, embedding and staining, such as reagents, stains, slides, cover glass, microarray substrates, detection kits and antibodies. We also provide a range of instruments including Lab Vision 360, an autostaining immunohistochemistry slide staining system; and the HMS760X, a robot stainer used in slide staining of histology and cytological specimens; along with other equipment such as tissue processors for preparation of tissue samples; microtomes and cryostats for sectioning of processed tissues; embedding centers, slide stainers to highlight abnormal cells for microscopic examination and diagnosis; coverslippers, such as the Microm CTM6, which places glass slipcovers on slides at a high capacity of approximately 450 slides per hour; and cassette and slide labelers for identifying specimens. The Shandon CytospinTM 4 Cytocentrifuge uses low-speed centrifugation technology to concentrate and deposit a thin layer of cells onto a microscope slide to ensure better cell capture and better preservation of cell morphology. The Shandon ExcelsiorTM provides a fully automatic solution for tissue processing and reagent storage/handling. For efficient handling and accurate identification of histology and cytology specimens, we offer a comprehensive line of cassette and slide labelers, including the new Shandon Laser MicroWriterTM developed specifically for anatomical pathology. The Laser MicroWriter prints 1D and 2D barcodes, text, logos and graphics in 26 different fonts at a speed of 1 to 2 seconds per slide and is designed to handle high-volume workloads in clinical or research laboratories. Other histology products include the new Shandon FinesseTM + line of microtomes for paraffin or resin sectioning, the Shandon CryotomeTM Series of cryostats for frozen sections and the Shandon VaristainTM line of slide stainers for cell morphology highlights.

Slide/Specialty Glass

Thermo Fisher focuses on manufacturing flat-sheet glass to produce medical disposable products such as microscope slides, plates, cover glass and microarray substrates serving the medical, diagnostics and scientific communities.

Environmental Instruments 

Our environmental analysis instrumentation offers innovative technologies for complying with government regulations and industry safety standards, or responding to a hazardous material situation, including air and water quality monitoring, gas and particulate detection, and elemental analysis. Our instruments include portable and fixed instrumentation used to help our customers protect people and the environment, with particular focus on environmental compliance, product quality, worker safety, process efficiency and security. Key end markets include fossil fuel and nuclear-powered electric generation facilities, federal and state agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), first responders such as the New York Police Department, national laboratories such as Los Alamos, general commercial and academic laboratories, transportation security for sites such as ports and airports, and other industrial markets such as pulp and paper and petrochemical. Our instrumentation is used in three primary applications: air quality monitoring and gas detection, water quality and aqueous solutions analysis, and radiation measurement and protection.

We are a leader in air quality instruments for ambient air and continuous emissions monitoring. Primary markets and customers include environmental regulatory agencies, emissions generating industries such as power generation and pulp and paper, first responders and industrial customers with Occupational Safety and Health
 

 
Administration-related gas detection requirements. Our instruments employ a variety of leading analytical techniques, such as chemiluminescence, which uses the light emission from chemical reactions to detect common air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide at the parts-per-trillion level. The iSeriesTM family of analyzers uses various optical detection technologies to monitor parts-per-billion levels of regulated pollutants, such as ground level ozone and sulfur dioxide. The TEOMTM series of continuous particulate monitors utilizes a patented measurement technology to detect airborne particulate matter with high sensitivity in a brief time period. This monitoring capability allows the U.S. EPA and worldwide monitoring networks to provide the public with Web-based access to the concentration levels of the particulate matter of most concern to people susceptible to respiratory conditions (such as the elderly and young children). Further, state and federal environmental agencies, as well as environmental compliance officers at facilities that release emissions into the air, use our stack gas monitoring systems to ensure that governmentally mandated standards are being met. The introduction of our Mercury FreedomTM System for the continuous monitoring of total gaseous mercury emissions from coal fired power plants enables the U.S. power generation industry to monitor for compliance with new regulations mandating the measurement of mercury, which will become effective in 2009. Our industrial hygiene products measure toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide, and hazardous chemicals such as benzene. The instruments range from handheld monitors used at hazardous waste sites for remediation activities, to general-purpose portable products for personnel-exposure monitoring, to sophisticated fixed systems in industrial facilities for early warning of unsafe combustible and toxic gas concentrations. In addition to these core applications, our product portfolio includes particulate monitoring instruments and leak-detection monitors.

Our water analysis products are recognized as high-quality meters, electrodes and solutions for the measurement of pH, ions, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. Marketed under the OrionTM and EutechTM product names, our products are sold across a broad range of industries for a variety of laboratory, field and process applications. Based on electrochemical sensing technology, these products are used wherever the quality of water and water-based products is critical. Primary applications include quality assurance, environmental testing and regulatory compliance in end markets such as general laboratories, life science, water and wastewater, food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical and power generation.

Our radiation measurement and protection instruments are used to monitor, detect and identify specific forms of radiation in nuclear power, environmental, industrial, medical and security applications. For example, power- generation facilities distribute our Mark IITM electronic pocket-calculator sized personal dosimeters to employees who work in areas that may expose them to radiation to capture the legal dose of record to which they are exposed on a daily basis. In addition, our customers use contamination monitors, such as our PCM2TM, in at-risk locations around their facilities to monitor radiation. A variety of our detectors, such as the Surveyor 2000TM, are used to monitor radiation levels and dosage using gross gamma detection technologies. Our product portfolio includes handheld survey meters and vehicle and pedestrian portals used to stop illicit transport of radioactive material. Environmental and contamination monitors are used by nuclear power plants to ensure worker safety.

Our security instruments and systems include a comprehensive range of stationary and portable instruments used for chemical and radiation detection. These instruments are based upon analytical technologies used in our core markets that we have refined for the specific needs of the security market, including key customers like the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and first responders. Our instruments, including the new handheld RadEyeTM personal radiation detector (PRD) and PackEyeTM backpack style device for discreet, rapid detection of gamma-emitting radioactive sources in large areas, are used for the detection and prevention of terrorist acts at airports, embassies, cargo facilities, border crossings and other high-threat locations, as well as at major events such as the Olympics. For example, Thermo Fisher provides the latest generation of radiation detection systems, known as Advanced Spectroscopic Portals (ASPs), to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO). Deployment of these systems at port and border locations globally is designed to detect and deter the importation of illicit nuclear devices or radiological materials. The ASPs are designed to allow Customs and other agencies to instantly detect and identify sources of radiation to a specific energy fingerprint, thus increasing the probability of deterring a threat, without a slowdown in commerce.
 

 
Process Instruments 

Our Process Instruments products include online instrumentation solutions and services that provide regulatory inspection; quality control; package integrity; process measurements; precise temperature control; physical, elemental and compositional analysis; surface and thickness measurements; remote communications; and flow and blend optimization. We serve a wide variety of global industries including oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, consumer products, power generation, metal, cement, minerals and mining, semiconductor and polymer. Our products are typically used in mission-critical manufacturing applications that require high levels of reliability and robustness. Our Process Instruments include five principal product lines: compliance testing, material characterization, materials and minerals, process systems, and weighing and inspection.

Through our compliance testing product lines we provide simulation and verification equipment for electronic components and systems under the KeyTek brand based on pulsed EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) technology. This business provides electronic components and systems-testing solutions for OEMs and independent testing labs. Our products and solutions are capable of testing EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) at the systems and discrete package levels to assist our customers in complying with various industry standards.

Our materials characterization product lines include instruments that help our customers analyze materials for viscosity, surface tension and thermal properties. For instance, our Haake-MARSTM and Haake-POLYLABTM products accurately and flexibly measure a wide range of rheological properties in the lab and in process applications. These measurement platforms use open standards and have the ability to connect to a range of sensors and systems. Our PRISMTM line of extruders and blenders meet R&D, small-scale production, quality control and pharmaceutical needs.

Our materials and minerals product line includes online bulk material analysis systems, such as the CBXTM and CQMTM products for the coal, cement, minerals and other bulk material handling markets. These products employ proprietary, ultrahigh-speed, non-invasive measurement technologies that use neutron activation and measurement of gamma rays to analyze, in real time, the physical and chemical properties of raw material streams. This eliminates the need for off-line sampling, and enables real-time online optimization, for instance, allowing the customer to optimally blend raw materials to control sulfur and ash in coal fired utilities. Our gauging products are used online to measure the total thickness, basis weight and coating thickness of flat-sheet materials, such as metal strip, plastics, foil, rubber, glass, paper and other web-type products. Our RadiometrieTM gauging line uses ionizing and non-ionizing technologies to perform high-speed, real-time, non-invasive measurements. We also provide process control instruments that monitor nuclear flux inside a reactor helping our nuclear power customers operate their plants in a safe and optimal manner.

In 2006, we acquired EGS Gauging Inc. (EGS) and the business and assets of Analyser Systems (ASYS). EGS provides leading technology in measurement of thickness and related properties for non-metallic gauging using traditional ionizing technology and proprietary non-ionizing technology called FSIRTM. ASYS further enhanced our capabilities in neutron activated measurements around bulk material streams.

Our process systems products help oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, electric-utility and other customers optimize their processes. These instruments provide measurements that help improve efficiency, provide process and quality control, maintain regulatory compliance and increase worker safety. For instance, our gas flow computers support custody transfer applications in the production and transmission of natural gas; our KRILTM level and interface detection products are used in extremely harsh coker applications for petroleum refining; our MOLATM analyzer helps our customers measure moisture in extreme applications like coke used in metal foundries, and our VG PrimaTM line of process mass spectrometers help our customers detect minute constituents in process gases. These systems provide real-time direct and remote data collection, analysis and local control functions using a variety of technologies, including radiation, radar, ultrasonic and vibration measurement principles, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Our SOLATM line of products, based on pulsed UV fluorescence technology, is an online sulfur analyzer used by refiners to bring clean fuels to consumers. We have extended the applications for SOLA to include online sulfur detection in the petrochemical environment, including flare gas composition and catalyst protection.


Our weighing and inspection products serve the food and beverage, pharmaceutical packaging and bulk material handling industries. For the food and beverage and pharmaceutical markets, we provide solutions to help our customers attain safety and quality standards. Based on a variety of technologies, such as X-ray imaging and ultratrace chemical detection, our products are used to inspect packaged goods for physical contaminants, validate fill quantities, or check for missing or broken parts. For example, our DSPTM line of metal detectors uses non-invasive, high-speed, flux technology to inspect packaged products; our AC line of checkweighers is used to weigh packages on high-speed packaging lines; our InScanTM line uses X-ray imaging to enable our customers to inspect canned or bottled beverages at very high speeds; and the PureAquaTM line provides online-sniffing technology to inspect recycled bottles for traces of contaminants before refilling. We also provide bulk material handling products such as belt scales, flow meters, safety switches and contamination detectors to enable solids-flow-monitoring, level measurements, personnel safety, spillage prevention and contamination detection for a wide variety of processing applications in the food, minerals, coal, cement and other bulk solids handling markets.

Laboratory Products and Services Segment

Through our Laboratory Products and Services segment, we offer a combination of products and services that allows our customers to engage in their core business functions of research, development, manufacturing, clinical diagnosis and drug discovery more accurately, rapidly and cost effectively. We serve the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, government and other research and industrial markets, as well as the clinical laboratory and healthcare industries. This segment has six principal product groupings - Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory Consumables, Research Market, Healthcare Market, Safety Market and BioPharma Services - and provides products and integrated solutions for various scientific challenges that support many facets of life science research, clinical diagnosis and workplace safety. Specifically, our Laboratory Equipment products consist primarily of sample preparation, controlled environment storage and handling equipment as well as laboratory workstations; our Laboratory Consumables include consumables, tubes and containers for sample preparation, analysis and sample storage. Our Research Market offers a wide variety of chemicals, instruments and apparatus, liquid handling pumps and devices, capital equipment and consumables; our Healthcare Market offers analytical equipment, diagnostic tools and reagents and consumables; our Safety Market offers workplace and first responder equipment, protective gear and apparel; and our BioPharma Services provide packaging, warehousing and distribution services, labeling, pharmaceutical and biospecimen storage, and analytical laboratory services primarily in the area of drug discovery and pharmaceutical clinical trials.

In the Research Market, the Fisher catalog has been published for nearly 100 years and is an internationally recognized scientific supply resource. In the Research, Healthcare and Safety Markets, we publish more than 3 million copies of our various catalogs each year in eight different languages. Our e-commerce product references are showcased by our website, www.fishersci.com, which is a leading e-commerce site supporting the scientific research community. The website contains product content for more than 320,000 products. We maintain an international network of warehouses in our primary markets through which we maintain inventory and coordinate product delivery. With specialized product vaults and temperature controlled storage capacity, we are able to handle the complete range of products we offer to our customers. Our transportation capabilities include our own fleet of delivery vehicles as well as parcel shipping capabilities that are closely integrated with our third-party parcel carriers. Throughout the product delivery process, we provide our customers with convenient access to comprehensive electronic systems allowing for automated catalog search, product order and invoicing and payment capabilities.

We deliver our products through third-party carriers and our own fleet of delivery vehicles. Third-party carriers include United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express, DHL and other carriers, including national and regional trucking firms, overnight carrier services and the U.S. Postal Service.
 

 
Laboratory Equipment 

Our Laboratory Equipment products and integrated solutions are used primarily by pharmaceutical companies for drug discovery and development, and by biotechnology companies and universities for life science research to advance the prevention and cure of diseases and enhance the quality of life.

We provide a broad range of equipment that is used for the preparation and preservation of chemical and biological samples, primarily for pharmaceutical, academic, clinical and government customers. Products include incubators that are used in biological experiments to allow growth of cells and organisms in optimal conditions of temperature, carbon dioxide and humidity. These are sold under various product line names including FormaTM and HeraeusTM.

We also offer a wide range of centrifuges, which are used to separate biological matrices and inorganic materials. Our microcentrifuges are primarily used for the purification of nucleic acids in the molecular biology laboratory, our general use benchtop centrifuges are suitable for processing clinical samples such as blood and urine, and our floor models are used for large volume blood processing or in laboratories with high-throughput needs. Our super-speed and ultra-speed models are used for applications such as protein purification. Our centrifuges are sold under various product line names including SorvallTM, IECTM, JouanTM and Heraeus.

We have a broad range of water purification products and technologies that serve the pharmaceutical, academic, industrial research and clinical testing markets. The different technologies (distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization, ultrafiltration, membrane filtration and the use of UV) allow for the systems to accept various incoming water qualities from around the world and deliver a range of water qualities for a wide variety of laboratory applications. These applications range from Type II water typically used to feed water baths or glassware washers to distilled water to Type I (extremely high-purity water), for use in hydrating reagents and buffers. In addition, for the most sensitive techniques requiring pyrogen-free, free of trace metals or low Total Organic Carbon (TOC) we offer integrated specialty treatments. These are sold under the product line name of BarnsteadTM.

Our shakers, stirrers and stirring hotplates, water baths and dry blocks, ovens, furnaces, heating mantles, tapes, mats and temperature monitoring devices, including thermometers, are offered in a range of sizes, temperatures and configurations for life science, analytical chemistry and quality control applications where temperature uniformity and control are critical. These are sold under various product line names including Barnstead, PrecisionTM, Heraeus, Blue MTM and VariomagTM.

We offer thermal cyclers for the amplification of nucleic acids by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). These are sold under the product line name of Hybaid.

Our centrifugal vacuum concentrators assist researchers in evaporating organic solvents, acids and buffers from their samples and have a wide range of applications in the preparation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), oligomers, plasmid preparation and the purification of pharmaceutical compounds. Our freeze dryers are used to lyophilize drugs, plants or tissues for long-term room temperature or refrigerated storage often retaining biological activity and the original cellular structure upon re-hydration. These products are sold under the SavantTM and Jouan product line names.

We are leaders in cold temperature storage equipment, ranging from laboratory refrigerators and freezers to ultralow temperature freezers and cryopreservation storage tanks, which are used primarily for storing samples in a cold environment to protect from degradation. These systems may be customized to accommodate specific equipment, allowing reactions (such as chromatography) to be run under low-temperature conditions. These products are sold under various product line names including Forma, RevcoTM, HarrisTM, JewettTM, Barnstead, Heraeus and Jouan.
 

 
Our biological safety cabinets enable technicians to handle samples without risk to themselves or their environment and without risk of cross-contamination of samples. Equipped with filtered air ventilation, controlled laminar flow and an ultraviolet source, biological safety cabinets can be used for tissue culture, IVF, infectious samples, forensic analysis or bioterrorism research. These products are sold under various product line names including Forma, Heraeus, HoltenTM and Jouan.

We provide a range of steam sterilizers for sterilizing biological samples and laboratory tools that are primarily used by pharmaceutical, clinical and academic customers. These products are sold under the product line names of H+PTM and Forma.

Through our control technologies product line we are a leading manufacturer of precision temperature control products for global industrial and laboratory markets. The temperature-control product line includes the NESLABTM and HAAKETM lines of heated/refrigerated circulating baths, immersion coolers and re-circulating chillers. Customers use these products to control highly critical manufacturing processes, such as semiconductor manufacturing operations or pharmaceutical-grade extrusion lines.

We also manufacture private label and OEM versions of certain of our product lines.

We are a major supplier of laboratory workstations and fume hoods for either new construction or laboratory renovation. Our product offerings include steel, wood and plastic laminate casework systems, adaptable furniture systems, chemical ventilation fume hoods and chemical storage cabinets and various other laboratory fixtures and accessories. Laboratory workstation products are sold under the names of Fisher HamiltonTM, HorizonTM, ConceptTM, SafeAireTM and PioneerTM.

We supply internet, phone and field technical support and service for laboratory equipment including installation, maintenance, repair and training on a worldwide basis via a network of internal phone support technicians and field-based service technicians as well as third-party service providers.

Laboratory Consumables 

We manufacture and sell glass and plastics consumables and certain related equipment to entities conducting scientific research, including drug discovery and drug development, quality and process control, clinical and basic research and development.

We are a leading supplier of sample tubes, containers and vessels, in a variety of plastics and glass and in a wide range of volumes for all types of life science, analytical and clinical analysis. Included in this offering are microwell plates ranging from a single well to 1,536 wells for applications ranging from tissue culture to primary and secondary screening in drug discovery. The geometry of the wells, the type of plastic resin, the surface treatments or filtration membrane in the devices vary to serve a number of applications for maximizing cell growth, sample concentration within the well or reduce background fluorescence or non-specific binding. These products are sold under various brand names including NalgeneTM, NuncTM, MBPTM, Capitol VialTM, ChaseTM and SamcoTM.

Accurate measurement and dispensing of samples and reagents is critical in a variety of industrial, academic, government, and clinical laboratories. We have a wide variety of single and multiple channel pipetting tools from manual to highly automated, covering a wide volume range. The ergonomics of these devices are important to the comfort of researchers handling numerous samples and pipetting steps on a daily basis. Due to sample cross-contamination concerns, the tips of the pipettes are disposable and a separate tip is used for each sample. These products are sold under various brands and product line names including FinnpipetteTM, MatrixTM, MBP and QSP.
 

 
We have tubes specific to centrifugation in various sizes to fit the volume and centrifugal speed requirements of the sample. In addition, we are the leaders in sample storage vials and organization systems for ultralow temperature and cryogenic storage, offering specific products for low protein binding (CryobankTM) and low DNA binding (Bank itTM). These products are sold under various brands including Nalgene, Nunc and Matrix.

We are the leading provider of tissue culture filtration and growth vessels. Our products are used by researchers for growth of tissue culture and can be scaled up to biomanufacturing of vaccines or monoclonal antibodies using Cell Factory products. The sterility of samples and growth media is critical to the viability of the cells. These products are sold under various brands including Nalgene and Nunc.

Research Market 

Our Research Market offerings include a wide range of products and services from a single source designed to allow our customers to engage more accurately and efficiently in laboratory research and development throughout the world. Our customers represent all industries requiring any level of laboratory research, including but not limited to the pharmaceutical, biotech, food and agriculture, government, academic and manufacturing industries.

Our products include all forms of laboratory products, ranging from capital equipment and instruments to chemicals to consumable products. We offer a mix of products that are manufactured by Thermo Fisher, that are manufactured by third parties for us on a private-label basis, and that are manufactured by third parties under their brand but offered for sale exclusively through us. We also offer a broad range of third-party products representing leading industry brand names on a non-exclusive basis.

Our biennial catalog consists of more than 40,000 products. Beyond our catalog, we offer our customers access to more than 650,000 products. Our e-commerce website, www.fishersci.com, has been an industry-leading online ordering and reference tool since its inception in the 1990s.

In addition to our broad product offering, we offer a variety of specialized services to our customers through our Managed Services team. Services provided to customers include dedicated logistics personnel who manage inventory and provide desktop delivery, coordinate instrument calibration and service, facilitate glass washing, provide on-site customer service and deliver other services that allow our customers to focus on their core research activities.

Healthcare Market

Our Healthcare Market offerings include a broad array of consumables, diagnostic kits and reagents, equipment, instruments, solutions and services for hospitals, clinical laboratories, reference laboratories, physicians’ offices and other clinical testing facilities. These products are manufactured by Thermo Fisher and third parties.

      Healthcare Market products and solutions focus on the collection, transportation and analysis of biological samples. Major product lines include anatomical pathology, molecular diagnostic and cardiac risk management solutions, along with blood collection devices, consumable vials and transportation devices, as well as an expensive portfolio of rapid diagnostic testing devices for drugs-of-abuse testing and diagnosis and monitoring of cancer, endocrine function and cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous system, respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases. The Healthcare Market core product offering also includes high-end diagnostic instruments and equipment together with the reagents used in those instruments and equipment to perform diagnostic tests. Sales in the healthcare market are fueled by the administration and evaluation of diagnostic tests. We believe that the aging population, as well as the increased demand for the development of new specialty diagnostic tests, will result in increased market growth.

In addition to our broad product offering, we offer a variety of specialized services to our customers through our Managed Services team. Services provided to customers include dedicated logistics personnel that manage inventory, provide on-site customer service, and deliver other services that allow our customers to focus on their core responsibilities.
 

 
Safety Market

Through our Safety Market we supply safety-related products to various industries including laboratory research, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, universities, food/agriculture, environmental and petrochemical as well as government and municipal agencies, fire departments and military units. Products offered to these markets include: cleanroom and controlled-environment supplies; personal protective equipment such as respirators, clothing, gloves, hardhats, hearing protection and eyewear; fall protection harnesses and restraints; self-contained breathing apparatus; specialized firefighting and military equipment and supplies; environmental monitoring and sampling equipment; and first responder supplies and equipment such as decontamination tents, bio-isolation systems, chemical protective suits and emergency response trailers. We offer products mainly manufactured by third parties as well as those manufactured by Thermo Fisher.

We also provide access to a broad offering of training, equipment servicing and on-site inventory management support through our dedicated safety sales professionals, equipment service employees and on-site customer support teams. Our goal is to provide a total solution of products, training and support to our customers.

BioPharma Services  

Our BioPharma Services offerings include global services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies engaged in clinical trials, including specialized packaging, over-encapsulation, multi-lingual and specialized labeling and distribution for phase III and phase IV clinical trials, analytical testing, biological-specimen management, as well as combinatorial chemistry, custom-chemical synthesis and supply-chain management. Thermo Fisher’s biorepository business provides temperature-controlled repository services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, university, government, clinical and blood-processing customers. Our biorepository services business stores millions of pharmalogical and biospecimen samples at commercial sites in the United States and the United Kingdom. Additional services include inventory management, validation, business continuity, and repository management and transportation capabilities resulting in a complete cold chain sample management solution.

Services are offered throughout the world, with operations in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Singapore. Expansion of our activities is under way into India and Latin America. Most services are offered under the Fisher Clinical ServicesTM or Lancaster LaboratoriesTM brands.

Sales and Marketing

We market and sell our products and services through a direct sales force, customer-service professionals, electronic commerce, third-party distributors and various catalogs.

We have approximately 7,500 sales and service professionals including over 1,000 highly trained technical specialists who enable us to better meet the needs of our more technical end-users. We also provide customers with an efficient ordering system, product standardization and other supply-chain-management services to reduce procurement costs.

New Products and Research and Development

Our business includes the development and introduction of new products and may include entry into new business segments. We are not currently committed to any new products that require the investment of a material amount of our funds, nor do we have any definitive plans to enter new businesses that would require such an investment.


 
During 2006, 2005 and 2004, we spent $170 million, $153 million and $135 million, respectively, on research and development, excluding a charge in 2006 of $15 million for in-process research and development at the date of the merger with Fisher.

Raw Materials

Our management team believes that we have a readily available supply of raw materials for all of our significant products from various sources. We do not anticipate any difficulties obtaining the raw materials essential to our business. Raw-material and fuel prices are subject to fluctuations due to market conditions. We employ many strategies, including the use of alternative materials and the use of derivative instruments, to mitigate the effect of these fluctuations on our results.

Patents, Licenses and Trademarks

Patents are important in both segments of our business. No particular patent, or related group of patents, is so important, however, that its loss would significantly affect our operations as a whole. Where appropriate, we seek patent protection for inventions and developments made by our personnel and incorporated into our products or otherwise falling within our fields of interest. Patent rights resulting from work sponsored by outside parties do not always accrue exclusively to the company and may be limited by agreements or contracts.

We protect some of our technology as trade secrets and, where appropriate, we use trademarks or register trademarks used in connection with products. We also enter into license agreements with others to grant and/or receive rights to patents and know-how.

Seasonal Influences

Revenues in the fourth calendar quarter are historically stronger than in the other quarters due to capital spending patterns of industrial, pharmaceutical and government customers.

Working Capital Requirements

There are no special inventory requirements or credit terms extended to customers that would have a material adverse effect on our working capital.

Dependency on a Single Customer

There is no single customer the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on our business. No customer accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues in any of the past three years.

Backlog

Our backlog of firm orders at year-end 2006 and 2005 was as follows:

       
2006
   
2005
 
   
(In thousands) 
                 
 
Analytical Technologies
 
$
827,097
 
$
445,321
 
 
Laboratory Products and Services
   
256,310
   
82,761
 
                 
     
$
1,083,407
 
$
528,082
 

We believe that virtually all of our backlog at the end of 2006 will be filled during 2007. The increase in backlog in 2006 is principally due to the Fisher merger and, to a lesser extent, increased demand.

 
Government Contracts

Although the company transacts business with various government agencies, no government contract is of such magnitude that a renegotiation of profits or termination of the contract at the election of the government agency would have a material adverse effect on the company’s financial results.

Competition

General

The company encounters aggressive and able competition in virtually all of the markets we serve. Because of the diversity of our products and services, we face many different types of competitors and competition. Our competitors include a broad range of manufacturers and third-party distributors. In general, competitive climates in the markets we serve are characterized by changing technology and customer demands that require continuing research and development. Our success in these markets primarily depends on the following factors:

·  
technical performance and advances in technology that result in new products and improved price/performance ratios;

·  
product differentiation, availability and reliability;

·  
our broad product offering;

·  
our reputation among customers as a quality provider of products and services;

·  
customer service and support;

·  
active research and application-development programs; and

·  
relative prices of our products and services.

Environmental Matters

We are subject to various laws and governmental regulations concerning environmental matters and employee safety and health in the United States and other countries. U.S. federal environmental legislation that affects us includes the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). We are also subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) concerning employee safety and health matters. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), OSHA, and other federal agencies have the authority to promulgate regulations that have an effect on our operations.

         In addition to these federal activities, various states have been delegated certain authority under the aforementioned federal statutes as well as having authority over these matters under state laws. Many state and local governments have adopted environmental and employee safety and health laws and regulations, some of which are similar to federal requirements.

A number of our operations involve the handling, manufacturing, use or sale of substances that are or could be classified as toxic or hazardous materials within the meaning of applicable laws. Consequently, some risk of environmental harm is inherent in our operations and products, as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses.

 
Our expenses for environmental requirements are incurred generally for ongoing compliance and historical remediation matters. Based on current information, we believe that these compliance costs are not material. For historical remediation obligations, our expenditures relate primarily to the cost of permitting, installing, and operating and maintaining groundwater-treatment systems and other remedial measures. We estimate our aggregate expenses for these environmental remediation matters will be approximately $1 million per year.

Our Fair Lawn and Somerville, New Jersey, facilities are the subject of administrative consent orders issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in 1984. Our Rockford, Illinois, facility is subject to a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) corrective action program administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. We are required to maintain groundwater-remediation activities at these sites. As the owner of the Fair Lawn facility, we are listed as a potentially responsible party for remediation within an area called the Fair Lawn Wellfields Superfund Site. This site was listed in 1983 on the National Priority List under CERCLA. Both New Jersey sites are also the subjects of CERCLA National Resources Damages claims.

We record accruals for environmental liabilities based on current interpretations of environmental laws and regulations when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of such liability can be reasonably estimated. We calculate estimates based upon several factors, including reports prepared by environmental specialists and management’s knowledge and experience with these environmental matters. We include in these estimates potential costs for investigation, remediation and operation and maintenance of cleanup sites. Accrued liabilities for environmental matters totaled $24 million at December 31, 2006 and were not material prior to the merger with Fisher. The liability for environmental matters associated with Fisher was recorded at the date of merger at its fair value and as such was discounted to its net present value.

These environmental liabilities do not include third-party recoveries to which we may be entitled. We believe that our accrual is adequate for the environmental liabilities we currently expect to incur. As a result, we believe that our ultimate liability with respect to environmental matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, we may be subject to additional remedial or compliance costs due to future events, such as changes in existing laws and regulations, changes in agency direction or enforcement policies, developments in remediation technologies, changes in the conduct of our operations, and the effect of changes in accounting rules, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Regulatory Affairs

Our operations, and some of the products we offer, are subject to a number of complex and stringent laws and regulations governing the production, handling, transportation and distribution of chemicals, drugs and other similar products, including the operating and security standards of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Food and Drug Administration, and various state boards of pharmacy as well as comparable state and foreign agencies. As Thermo Fisher’s businesses also include export and import activities, we are subject to pertinent laws enforced by the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State and Treasury. In addition, our logistics activities must comply with the rules and regulations of the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and similar foreign agencies. While we believe we are in compliance in all material respects with such laws and regulations, any noncompliance could result in substantial fines or otherwise restrict our ability to provide competitive distribution services and thereby have an adverse effect on our financial condition. To date, none has had a material impact on our operations.

Number of Employees

As of December 31, 2006, we had approximately 30,500 employees.

 
Financial Information About Geographic Areas

Financial information about geographic areas is summarized in Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, which begin on page F-1 of this report.

Available Information

The company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Exchange Act. The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
Also, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information that issuers, including the company, file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on or through our own website at www.thermofisher.com our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. In addition, paper copies of these documents may be obtained free of charge by writing to the company care of its Investor Relations Department at our principal executive office located at 81 Wyman Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

 
Name
 
Age
 
Present Title (Fiscal Year First Became Executive Officer) 
 
             
 
Marijn E. Dekkers
 
49
 
President and Chief Executive Officer (2000)
 
 
Marc N. Casper
 
38
 
Executive Vice President (2001)
 
 
Guy Broadbent
 
43
 
Senior Vice President (2001)
 
 
Seth H. Hoogasian
 
52
 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (2001)
 
 
Alan J. Malus
 
47
 
Senior Vice President (2006)
 
 
Joseph R. Massaro
 
37
 
Senior Vice President, Global Business Services (2006)
 
 
Stephen G. Sheehan
 
51
 
Senior Vice President, Human Resources (2003)
 
 
Fredric T. Walder
 
49
 
Senior Vice President, Commercial Excellence (2006)
 
 
Peter M. Wilver
 
47
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2003)
 
 
Peter E. Hornstra
 
47
 
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (2001)
 

Mr. Dekkers was appointed Chief Executive Officer in November 2002 and President in July 2000. He was Chief Operating Officer from July 2000 to November 2002.

Mr. Casper was appointed Executive Vice President in November 2006. He was Senior Vice President from December 2003 to November 2006. He was President, Life and Laboratory Sciences from December 2001 to March 2005. He was Vice President of Thermo from December 2001 to December 2003. From July 2000 to July 2001, Mr. Casper was president and chief executive officer of Kendro Laboratory Products, a life sciences company that provides sample-preparation and processing equipment and that was acquired by the company in May 2005.

Mr. Broadbent was appointed Senior Vice President in November 2006. He was President, Laboratory Equipment from November 2004 to November 2006, and Vice President of Thermo from January 2001 to November 2004. He was President, Spectra-Physics Division from December 2003 to July 2004 and was President, Optical Technologies from October 2000 to December 2003.

Mr. Hoogasian was appointed Senior Vice President in November 2006, Secretary in 2001 and General Counsel in 1992. He was Vice President from 1996 to November 2006.

 
Mr. Malus was appointed Senior Vice President in November 2006. Prior to Thermo’s merger with Fisher, Mr. Malus was group president of distribution and services for Fisher, where he focused on growing the company’s customer channel businesses serving research, healthcare, education and safety markets. Mr. Malus joined Fisher in 1998 and has served in a variety of management roles.

Mr. Massaro was appointed Senior Vice President, Global Business Services in November 2006. Prior to Thermo’s merger with Fisher, Mr. Massaro was vice president finance and accounting for Fisher and vice president finance and strategic planning for Fisher BioPharma Services. Mr. Massaro joined Fisher in June 2002 and has served in a variety of management roles. Prior to joining Fisher, Mr. Massaro was a director with the Boston office of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Sheehan was appointed Senior Vice President, Human Resources in November 2006. He was Vice President, Human Resources from August 2001 to November 2006.

Mr. Walder was appointed Senior Vice President, Commercial Excellence in November 2006. He was President, Environmental Instruments from April to November 2006, and President, Scientific Instruments from December 2002 to April 2006. Mr. Walder joined Thermo in 1992 and has served in a variety of management roles.

Mr. Wilver was appointed Senior Vice President in November 2006 and Chief Financial Officer in October 2004. He was Vice President from October 2004 to November 2006, and Vice President, Financial Operations from October 2000 to October 2004.

Mr. Hornstra was appointed Vice President in February 2007 and Chief Accounting Officer in January 2001. He was Corporate Controller from January 1996 to February 2007.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

Set forth below are the risks that we believe are material to our investors. This section contains forward-looking statements. You should refer to the explanation of the qualifications and limitations on forward-looking statements beginning on page 3.

We must develop new products, adapt to rapid and significant technological change and respond to introductions of new products in order to remain competitive. Our growth strategy includes significant investment in and expenditures for product development. We sell our products in several industries that are characterized by rapid and significant technological changes, frequent new product and service introductions and enhancements and evolving industry standards. Without the timely introduction of new products, services and enhancements, our products and services will likely become technologically obsolete over time, in which case our revenue and operating results would suffer.

Development of our products requires significant investment; our products and technologies could become uncompetitive or obsolete. Our customers use many of our products to develop, test and manufacture their own products. As a result, we must anticipate industry trends and develop products in advance of the commercialization of our customers’ products. If we fail to adequately predict our customers’ needs and future activities, we may invest heavily in research and development of products and services that do not lead to significant revenue.

Many of our existing products and those under development are technologically innovative and require significant planning, design, development and testing at the technological, product and manufacturing-process levels. These activities require us to make significant investments.

Products in our markets undergo rapid and significant technological change because of quickly changing industry standards and the introduction of new products and technologies that make existing products and technologies uncompetitive or obsolete. Our competitors may adapt more quickly to new technologies and changes in 

 
customersrequirements than we can. The products that we are currently developing, or those we will develop in the future, may not be technologically feasible or accepted by the marketplace, and our products or technologies could become uncompetitive or obsolete.

It may be difficult for us to implement our strategies for improving internal growth. Some of the markets in which we compete have been flat or declining over the past several years. To address this issue, we are pursuing a number of strategies to improve our internal growth, including:

·  
finding new markets for our products;

·  
developing new applications for our technologies;

·  
combining sales and marketing operations in appropriate markets to compete more effectively;

·  
allocating research and development funding to products with higher growth prospects;

·  
continuing key customer initiatives;

·  
expanding our service offerings;

·  
strengthening our presence in selected geographic markets; and

·  
continuing the development of commercial tools and infrastructure to increase and support cross-selling opportunities of products and services to take advantage of our breadth in product offerings.

We may not be able to successfully implement these strategies, and these strategies may not result in the growth of our business.

The company may be unable to integrate successfully the legacy businesses of Thermo Electron Corporation and Fisher Scientific International Inc. and may be unable to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger.

The merger involved the combination of two companies which previously operated as independent public companies. The company is required to devote significant management attention and resources to integrating its business practices and operations. Potential difficulties the company may encounter in the integration process include the following:

·  
if we are unable to successfully combine the businesses of Thermo and Fisher in a manner that permits the company to achieve the cost savings and operating synergies anticipated to result from the merger, such anticipated benefits of the merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected;

·  
lost sales and customers as a result of certain customers of either of the two former companies deciding not to do business with the company;

·  
complexities associated with managing the combined businesses;

·  
integrating personnel from diverse corporate cultures while maintaining focus on providing consistent, high quality products and customer service;

·  
potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen increased expenses or delays associated with the merger; 

 
·  
performance shortfalls at the company as a result of the diversion of management’s attention to the merger; and

·  
inability to successfully execute a branding campaign for the combined company.

In addition, it is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption or interruption of, or the loss of momentum in, the company’s ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, any of which could adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers and employees or our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger, or could reduce our earnings or otherwise adversely affect the business and financial results of the company.

Our inability to protect our intellectual property could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, third parties may claim that we infringe their intellectual property, and we could suffer significant litigation or licensing expense as a result. We place considerable emphasis on obtaining patent and trade secret protection for significant new technologies, products and processes because of the length of time and expense associated with bringing new products through the development process and into the marketplace. Our success depends in part on our ability to develop patentable products and obtain and enforce patent protection for our products both in the United States and in other countries. We own numerous U.S. and foreign patents, and we intend to file additional applications, as appropriate, for patents covering our products. Patents may not be issued for any pending or future patent applications owned by or licensed to us, and the claims allowed under any issued patents may not be sufficiently broad to protect our technology. Any issued patents owned by or licensed to us may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights under these patents may not provide us with competitive advantages. In addition, competitors may design around our technology or develop competing technologies. Intellectual property rights may also be unavailable or limited in some foreign countries, which could make it easier for competitors to capture increased market position. We could incur substantial costs to defend ourselves in suits brought against us or in suits in which we may assert our patent rights against others. An unfavorable outcome of any such litigation could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We also rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how with which we seek to protect our products, in part, by confidentiality agreements with our collaborators, employees and consultants. These agreements may be breached and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently developed by our competitors.

Third parties may assert claims against us to the effect that we are infringing on their intellectual property rights. For example, in September 2004 Applied Biosystems/MDS Scientific Instruments and related parties brought a lawsuit against us alleging our mass spectrometer systems infringe a patent held by the plaintiffs. We could incur substantial costs and diversion of management resources in defending these claims, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, parties making these claims could secure a judgment awarding substantial damages, as well as injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to make, use, sell, distribute, or market our products and services in the United States or abroad. In the event that a claim relating to intellectual property is asserted against us, or third parties not affiliated with us hold pending or issued patents that relate to our products or technology, we may seek licenses to such intellectual property or challenge those patents. However, we may be unable to obtain these licenses on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, and our challenge of the patents may be unsuccessful. Our failure to obtain the necessary licenses or other rights could prevent the sale, manufacture, or distribution of our products and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Demand for most of our products depends on capital spending policies of our customers and on government funding policies. Our customers include pharmaceutical and chemical companies, laboratories, universities, healthcare providers, government agencies and public and private research institutions. Many factors, including public policy spending priorities, available resources and product and economic cycles, have a significant effect on the capital spending policies of these entities. These policies in turn can have a significant effect on the demand for our products.

 
Our results could be impacted if we are unable to realize potential future benefits from new productivity initiatives. We continue to pursue practical process improvement (PPI) programs and other cost saving initiatives at our locations which are designed to further enhance our productivity, efficiency and customer satisfaction. While we anticipate continued benefits from these initiatives, future benefits are expected to be fewer and smaller in size and may be more difficult to achieve.

Our business is impacted by general economic conditions and related uncertainties affecting markets in which we operate. Adverse economic conditions could adversely impact our business in 2007 and beyond, resulting in:

·  reduced demand for some of our products;

·  increased rate of order cancellations or delays;

·  increased risk of excess and obsolete inventories;

·  increased pressure on the prices for our products and services; and

·  greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable.

Changes in governmental regulations may reduce demand for our products or increase our expenses. We compete in many markets in which we and our customers must comply with federal, state, local and international regulations, such as environmental, health and safety, and food and drug regulations. We develop, configure and market our products to meet customer needs created by those regulations. Any significant change in regulations could reduce demand for our products or increase our expenses. For example, many of our instruments are marketed to the pharmaceutical industry for use in discovering and developing drugs. Changes in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of the drug discovery and development process could have an adverse effect on the demand for these products.

If any of our security products fail to detect explosives or radiation, we could be exposed to product liability and related claims for which we may not have adequate insurance coverage. The products sold by our environmental instruments business include a comprehensive range of fixed and portable instruments used for chemical, radiation and trace explosives detection. These products are used in airports, embassies, cargo facilities, border crossings and other high-threat facilities for the detection and prevention of terrorist acts. If any of these products were to malfunction, it is possible that explosive or radioactive material could pass through the product undetected, which could lead to product liability claims. There are also many other factors beyond our control that could lead to liability claims, such as the reliability and competence of the customers’ operators and the training of such operators. Any such product liability claims brought against us could be significant and any adverse determination may result in liabilities in excess of our insurance coverage. Although we carry product liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our current insurance will be sufficient to cover these claims or that it can be maintained on acceptable terms, if at all.

Our inability to successfully identify and complete acquisitions or successfully integrate any new or previous acquisitions could have a material adverse effect on our business. Our business strategy includes the acquisition of technologies and businesses that complement or augment our existing products and services. Promising acquisitions are difficult to identify and complete for a number of reasons, including competition among prospective buyers and the need for regulatory, including antitrust, approvals. We may not be able to identify and successfully complete transactions. Any acquisition we may complete may be made at a substantial premium over the fair value of the net assets of the acquired company. Further, we may not be able to integrate any acquired businesses successfully into our existing businesses, make such businesses profitable, or realize anticipated cost savings or synergies, if any, from these acquisitions, which could adversely affect our business.

 
Moreover, we have acquired many companies and businesses. As a result of these acquisitions, we recorded significant goodwill on our balance sheet, which amounts to approximately $8.5 billion as of December 31, 2006. We assess the realizability of the goodwill we have on our books annually as well as whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the goodwill may be impaired. These events or circumstances generally include operating losses or a significant decline in earnings associated with the acquired business or asset. Our ability to realize the value of the goodwill will depend on the future cash flows of these businesses. These cash flows in turn depend in part on how well we have integrated these businesses. If we are not able to realize the value of the goodwill, we may be required to incur material charges relating to the impairment of those assets.

Our growth strategy to acquire new businesses may not be successful and the integration of future acquisitions may be difficult and disruptive to our ongoing operations.
 
We have retained contingent liabilities from businesses that we have sold. From 1997 through 2004, we divested over 60 businesses with aggregate annual revenues in excess of $2 billion. As part of these transactions, we retained responsibility for some of the contingent liabilities related to these businesses, such as lawsuits, product liability and environmental claims and potential claims by buyers that representations and warranties we made about the businesses were inaccurate. The resolution of these contingencies has not had a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition; however, we can not be certain that this favorable pattern will continue.

As a multinational corporation, we are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which could adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations. International revenues account for a substantial portion of our revenues, and we intend to continue expanding our presence in international markets. In 2006, our international revenues from continuing operations, including export revenues from the United States, accounted for approximately 46% of our total revenues. The exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates takes on different forms. International revenues are subject to the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect product demand and the profitability in U.S. dollars of products and services provided by us in international markets, where payment for our products and services is made in the local currency. As a multinational corporation, our businesses occasionally invoice third-party customers in currencies other than the one in which they primarily do business (the “functional currency”). Movements in the invoiced currency relative to the functional currency could adversely impact our cash flows and our results of operations. In addition, reported sales made in non-U.S. currencies by our international businesses, when translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes, fluctuate due to exchange rate movement. Should our international sales grow, exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates could have a larger effect on our financial results. In 2006, currency translation had a favorable effect on revenues of our continuing operations of $18 million due to a weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies in which the company sells products and services.

We are subject to laws and regulations governing government contracts, and failure to address these laws and regulations or comply with government contracts could harm our business by leading to a reduction in revenue associated with these customers. We have agreements relating to the sale of our products to government entities and, as a result, we are subject to various statutes and regulations that apply to companies doing business with the government. The laws governing government contracts differ from the laws governing private contracts and government contracts may contain pricing terms and conditions that are not applicable to private contracts. We are also subject to investigation for compliance with the regulations governing government contracts. A failure to comply with these regulations could result in suspension of these contracts, criminal, civil and administrative penalties or debarment.

Because we compete directly with certain of our largest customers and product suppliers, our results of operations could be adversely affected in the short term if these customers or suppliers abruptly discontinue or significantly modify their relationship with us.

 
Our largest customer in the laboratory consumables business and our largest customer in the diagnostics business are also significant competitors. Our business may be harmed in the short term if our competitive relationship in the marketplace with these customers results in a discontinuation of their purchases from us. In addition, we manufacture products that compete directly with products that we source from third-party suppliers. We also source competitive products from multiple suppliers. Our business could be adversely affected in the short term if any of our large third-party suppliers abruptly discontinues selling products to us.

Because we rely heavily on third-party package-delivery services, a significant disruption in these services or significant increases in prices may disrupt our ability to ship products, increase our costs and lower our profitability.
 
We ship a significant portion of our products to our customers through independent package delivery companies, such as UPS and Federal Express in the U.S. and DHL in Europe. We also maintain a small fleet of vehicles dedicated to the delivery of our products and ship our products through other carriers, including national and regional trucking firms, overnight carrier services and the U.S. Postal Service. If UPS or another third-party package-delivery provider experiences a major work stoppage, preventing our products from being delivered in a timely fashion or causing us to incur additional shipping costs we could not pass on to our customers, our costs could increase and our relationships with certain of our customers could be adversely affected. In addition, if UPS or our other third-party package-delivery providers increase prices, and we are not able to find comparable alternatives or make adjustments in our delivery network, our profitability could be adversely affected.

We are subject to regulation by various federal, state and foreign agencies that require us to comply with a wide variety of regulations, including those regarding the manufacture of products, the shipping of our products and environmental matters.

Some of our operations are subject to regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and similar international agencies. These regulations govern a wide variety of product activities, from design and development to labeling, manufacturing, promotion, sales and distribution. If we fail to comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s regulations or those of similar international agencies, we may have to recall products and cease their manufacture and distribution, which would increase our costs and reduce our revenues.

We are subject to federal, state, local and international laws and regulations that govern the handling, transportation, manufacture, use or sale of substances that are or could be classified as toxic or hazardous substances. Some risk of environmental damage is inherent in our operations and the products we manufacture, sell or distribute. This requires us to devote significant resources to maintain compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, including the establishment of reserves to address potential environmental costs, and manage environmental risks.

We rely heavily on manufacturing operations to produce the products we sell, and our business could be adversely affected by disruptions of our manufacturing operations.

We rely upon our manufacturing operations to produce many of the products we sell. Any significant disruption of those operations for any reason, such as strikes or other labor unrest, power interruptions, fire, earthquakes, or other events beyond our control could adversely affect our sales and customer relationships and therefore adversely affect our business. Although most of our raw materials are available from a number of potential suppliers, our operations also depend upon our ability to obtain raw materials at reasonable prices. If we are unable to obtain the materials we need at a reasonable price, we may not be able to produce certain of our products or we may not be able to produce certain of these products at a marketable price, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 
We may be unable to adjust to rapid changes in the healthcare industry, some of which could adversely affect our business.

The healthcare industry has undergone significant changes in an effort to reduce costs. These changes include:
     
        development of large and sophisticated groups purchasing medical and surgical supplies;
   
        wider implementation of managed care;
   
        legislative healthcare reform;

        consolidation of pharmaceutical companies;
   
        increased outsourcing of certain activities, including to low-cost offshore locations; and
   
        consolidation of distributors of pharmaceutical, medical and surgical supplies.

We expect the healthcare industry to continue to change significantly in the future. Some of these potential changes, such as a reduction in governmental support of healthcare services or adverse changes in legislation or regulations governing the delivery or pricing of healthcare services or mandated benefits, may cause healthcare-industry participants to purchase fewer of our products and services or to reduce the prices they are willing to pay for our products or services.

We may incur unexpected costs from increases in fuel and raw material prices, which could reduce our earnings and cash flow.

Our primary commodity exposures are for fuel, petroleum-based resins, steel and serum. While we may seek to minimize the impact of price increases through higher prices to customers and various cost-saving measures, our earnings and cash flows could be adversely affected in the event these measures are insufficient to cover our costs.

Unforeseen problems with the implementation and maintenance of our information systems could interfere with our operations. As a part of the effort to upgrade our current information systems, we are implementing new enterprise resource planning software and other software applications to manage certain of our business operations. As we implement and add functionality, problems could arise that we have not foreseen. Such problems could adversely impact our ability to do the following in a timely manner: provide quotes, take customer orders, ship products, provide services and support to our customers, bill and track our customers, fulfill contractual obligations and otherwise run our business. In addition, if our new systems fail to provide accurate and increased visibility into pricing and cost structures, it may be difficult to improve or maximize our profit margins. As a result, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Our debt may adversely affect our cash flow and may restrict our investment opportunities or limit our activities.

As of December 31, 2006, we had approximately $2.7 billion in outstanding indebtedness. In addition, we had the ability to incur an additional $635 million of indebtedness under our revolving credit facility. We may also obtain additional long-term debt and lines of credit to meet future financing needs, which would have the effect of increasing our total leverage.

Our leverage could have negative consequences, including increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions, limiting our ability to obtain additional financing and limiting our ability to acquire new products and technologies through strategic acquisitions.

 
Our ability to satisfy our obligations depends on our future operating performance and on economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow to meet these obligations. If we are unable to service our debt or obtain additional financing, we may be forced to delay strategic acquisitions, capital expenditures or research and development expenditures. We may not be able to obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to us or at all.

Additionally, the agreements governing our debt require that we maintain certain financial ratios, and contain affirmative and negative covenants that restrict our activities by, among other limitations, limiting our ability to incur additional indebtedness, make investments, create liens, sell assets and enter into transactions with affiliates. The covenants in our revolving credit facility include a debt-to-EBITDA ratio. Specifically, the company has agreed that, so long as any lender has any commitment under the facility, or any loan or other obligation is outstanding under the facility, or any letter of credit is outstanding under the new facility, it will not permit (as the following terms are defined in the new facility) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (the ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA) as at the last day of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0.

Our ability to comply with these financial restrictions and covenants is dependent on our future performance, which is subject to prevailing economic conditions and other factors, including factors that are beyond our control such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates. Our failure to comply with any of these restrictions or covenants may result in an event of default under the applicable debt instrument, which could permit acceleration of the debt under that instrument and require us to prepay that debt before its scheduled due date. Also, an acceleration of the debt under one of our debt instruments would trigger an event of default under other of our debt instruments.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 2.

The location and general character of our principal properties by segment as of December 31, 2006, are as follows:

Analytical Technologies

We own approximately 3,040,000 square feet of office, engineering, laboratory and production space, principally in Wisconsin, California and Virginia within the U.S., and in Germany and England. We lease approximately 3,630,000 square feet of office, engineering, laboratory and production space, principally in Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, Kansas, California and Pennsylvania within the U.S., and in Australia, England, China and Germany, under various leases that expire between 2007 and 2050.

Laboratory Products and Services

We own approximately 7,650,000 square feet of office, engineering, laboratory and production space, principally in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Illinois within the U.S., and in Switzerland and Germany. We lease approximately 4,810,000 square feet of office, engineering, laboratory and production space, principally in Illinois, Maryland, California and Pennsylvania within the U.S. and in Finland, under various leases that expire between 2007 and 2019.

 
Corporate Headquarters

We own approximately 81,000 square feet of office space in Massachusetts. We also own approximately 100,000 square feet of office space in New Hampshire which was the former corporate headquarters of Fisher.

We believe that all of the facilities that we are currently utilizing are in good condition and are suitable and adequate to meet our current needs. If we are unable to renew any of the leases that are due to expire in 2007 or 2008, we believe that suitable replacement properties are available on commercially reasonable terms.

Item 3.
Legal Proceedings

On September 3, 2004, Applera Corporation, MDS Inc. and Applied Biosystems/MDS Scientific Instruments filed a complaint against the company in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Civil Action No. 04-1230-GMS. These plaintiffs allege that the company’s mass spectrometer systems, including its triple quadrupole and certain of its ion trap systems, infringe U.S. patent number 4,963,736 entitled “Mass Spectrometer and Method and Improved Ion Transmission.” The plaintiffs seek damages, including treble damages for alleged willful infringement, attorneys’ fees, prejudgment interest and injunctive relief. An unfavorable outcome could have a material adverse impact on the company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

On December 8, 2004 and February 23, 2005, the company asserted in two lawsuits in the same Delaware court, that one or more of the plaintiffs in the above action infringe two patents of the company (U.S. patent number 5,385,654 entitled “Controlled Temperature Anion Separation by Capillary Electrophoresis” and U.S. patent number 6,528,784 entitled “Mass Spectrometer System Including a Double Ion Guide Interface and Method of Operation”).
The lawsuits brought by the company seek relief similar to that being sought by the plaintiffs.

Our business involves a risk of product liability and other claims in the ordinary course of business. We are a party to various lawsuits and legal proceedings, including consolidated multi-party product liability actions for products we may have distributed or manufactured. These matters have arisen in the ordinary course and conduct of our business, as well as through acquisitions. We believe that some of the costs incurred in defending and ultimately disposing of many of these claims for personal injury and other matters may be covered in part by insurance policies maintained by certain insurance carriers or subject to indemnification by our suppliers or purchasers. Management, after review and consideration with counsel, considers that any ultimate liability with respect to these matters should not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. While liabilities arising from potential future claims could become material, we currently believe, on the basis of our claims history and related factors, that such potential future claims are not likely to have a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Actual costs incurred will depend on the solvency of our insurance carriers, the degree of coverage with respect to any particular claim, our success in litigating these claims and the solvency of third parties who may be jointly and severally liable. See “Item 1 — Business — Environmental Matters,” for legal proceedings involving certain environmental matters.

We are subject to the jurisdiction of various regulatory agencies including, among others, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agency for International Development. Various governmental agencies conduct investigations from time to time to examine matters relating to our operations. Some operations involve and have involved the handling, manufacture, use or sale of substances that are classified as toxic or hazardous substances within the meaning of applicable environmental laws. Consequently, some risk of environmental and other damage is inherent in particular operations and products as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses, and we cannot assure that material damage will not occur or be discovered or that the damage will not be determined to be material in the future.

 
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders, whether through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise, during our 2006 fourth fiscal quarter.

PART II

Item 5.
Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Price of Common Stock

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TMO. The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of the company’s common stock for 2006 and 2005, as reported in the consolidated transaction reporting system.
 
     
 2006
 
 2005
 
 
 
 High
 
 Low
 
 High
 
 Low
                           
 
First Quarter
 
$
37.12
 
$
30.28
 
$
29.99
 
$
24.89
 
Second Quarter
   
39.45
   
34.00
   
27.20
   
24.24
 
Third Quarter
   
40.21
   
34.59
   
30.90
   
26.70
 
Fourth Quarter
   
46.16
   
38.93
   
31.78
   
29.53

Holders of Common Stock

As of February 2, 2007, the company had 8,535 holders of record of its common stock. This does not include holdings in street or nominee names.

Dividend Policy

The company has never paid cash dividends and does not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of dividends is at the discretion of the company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other factors, the company’s earnings, capital requirements and financial condition.



 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

A summary of the share repurchase activity for the company’s fourth quarter of 2006 follows:
   
Period
   
Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased
 
  Average
Price
Paid per Share
     
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs (1)
 
Maximum
Dollar Amount
of Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs (1)
 
                             
 
October 1 - October 28
   
 
$
   
 
$
72,000,000
 
 
October 29 - November 25
   
 
$
   
 
$
72,000,000
 
 
November 26 - December 31
   
1,630,366
 
$
44.16
   
1,630,366
 
$
 
                             
 
Total Fourth Quarter
   
1,630,366
 
$
44.16
   
1,630,366
 
$
 

 
(1)
On February 28, 2006, the company announced a repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $100 million of the company’s common stock in the open market or in negotiated transactions. On May 7, 2006, the company increased the existing authorization for the purchase of up to an additional $200 million of the company’s common stock in the open market or in negotiated transactions. All of the shares of common stock repurchased by the company during the fourth quarter of 2006 were purchased under this program. At December 31, 2006, no remaining authorization existed for future repurchases. In February 2007, the company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of the company’s common stock through February 28, 2008.

Item 6.
Selected Financial Data

     
2006 (a)
   
2005 (b)
 
 
2004 (c)
 
 
2003 (d)
 
 
2002 (e)
 
 
                           (In millions except per share amounts)
 
Statement of Operations Data
                               
 
Revenues
 
$
3,791.6
 
$
2,633.0
 
$
2,206.0
 
$
1,899.4
 
$
1,849.4
 
 
Operating Income
   
242.0
   
263.5
   
237.5
   
187.4
   
169.9
 
 
     Income from Continuing Operations
   
166.3
   
198.3
   
218.4
   
175.2
   
203.4
 
 
Net Income (Loss)
   
168.9
   
223.2
   
361.8
   
200.0
   
309.7
 
 
     Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations:
                               
 
Basic
   
.85
   
1.23
   
1.34
   
1.08
   
1.21
 
 
Diluted
   
.82
   
1.21
   
1.31
   
1.05
   
1.17
 
 
Earnings (Loss) per Share:
                               
 
Basic
   
.86
   
1.38
   
2.22
   
1.23
   
1.84
 
 
Diluted
   
.84
   
1.36
   
2.17
   
1.20
   
1.73
 
                                   
 
Balance Sheet Data
                               
 
Working Capital
 
$
1,507.2
 
$
562.2
 
$
890.9
 
$
710.5
 
$
667.8
 
 
Total Assets
   
21,262.2
   
4,251.6
   
3,576.7
   
3,389.3
   
3,651.5
 
 
Long-term Obligations
   
2,180.7
   
468.6
   
226.1
   
229.5
   
451.3
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity
   
13,911.8
   
2,793.3
   
2,665.6
   
2,381.7
   
2,030.3
 


 
Through 2002, the company had a fiscal year end ending the Saturday nearest December 31. In 2003, the company changed its year end to December 31. The results of Spectra-Physics have been reclassified to discontinued operations for all years presented. The caption “restructuring and other costs” in the notes below include amounts charged to cost of revenues, primarily for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition.

(a)
Reflects completion of the merger with Fisher on November 9, 2006, including issuance of common stock. Also reflects a $123.3 million pre-tax charge for restructuring and other costs; a charge of $36.7 million for acceleration of vesting of equity-based compensation as a result of the Fisher merger; and after-tax income of $2.6 million related to the company’s discontinued operations.
(b)
Reflects a $30.3 million pre-tax charge for restructuring and other costs; $27.6 million of pre-tax net gains from the sale of shares of Thoratec Corporation and Newport Corporation; and after-tax income of $24.9 million related to the company’s discontinued operations. Also reflects use of cash and debt for acquisitions, principally Kendro.
(c)
Reflects a $19.2 million pre-tax charge for restructuring and other costs; $9.6 million of pre-tax gains from the sale of shares of Thoratec; $33.8 million of tax benefits recorded on completion of tax audits; after-tax income of $143.5 million related to the company’s discontinued operations; and the repurchase of $231.5 million of the company’s common stock.
(d)
Reflects a $45.3 million pre-tax charge for restructuring and other costs; $16.3 million of pre-tax gains from the sale of shares of Thoratec; $13.7 million of pre-tax gains from the sale of shares of FLIR Systems, Inc.; after-tax income of $24.8 million related to the company’s discontinued operations; and the repurchase and redemption of $356.9 million of the company’s debt and equity securities.
(e)
Reflects a $46.2 million pre-tax charge for restructuring and other costs; $111.4 million of pre-tax gains from the sale of shares of FLIR; after-tax income of $106.3 million related to the company’s discontinued operations; the repurchase and redemption of $924.9 million of the company’s debt and equity securities; and the reclassification of the company’s $71.9 million principal amount 4 3/8% subordinated convertible debentures from long-term obligations to current liabilities as a result of the company’s decision to redeem them in April 2003. Also reflects the adoption of SFAS No. 142, under which amortization of goodwill ceased.

Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Reference is made throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which begin on page F-1 of this report.

Thermo Electron Corporation and Fisher Scientific International Inc. announced on May 8, 2006 that the boards of directors of both companies had unanimously approved a definitive agreement to combine the two companies in a tax-free, stock-for-stock exchange. The Fisher businesses are a leading provider of products and services to the scientific research community and clinical laboratories. The Fisher businesses provide a suite of products and services to customers worldwide from biochemicals, cell-culture media and proprietary RNAi technology to rapid-diagnostic tests, safety products and other consumable supplies. Fisher had revenues of $5.4 billion in 2005. The transaction was approved by both companies’ shareholders, in separate meetings, held on August 30, 2006 and, following regulatory approvals, was completed on November 9, 2006. Fisher’s results are included in the accompanying financial statements from November 9, 2006. Following the merger, the company was renamed Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Overview of Results of Operations and Liquidity 

The company develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of products that are sold worldwide. The company expands the product lines and services it offers by developing and commercializing its own core technologies and by making strategic acquisitions of complementary businesses. In 2004, the company sold Spectra-Physics, its optical technologies segment which has been presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying financial statements. Following the merger with Fisher, the company’s continuing operations fall into two principal business segments: Analytical Technologies and Laboratory Products and Services. Revenues in the fourth quarter are historically stronger than in other quarters due to capital spending patterns of industrial, pharmaceutical and government customers.

 
   Revenues  
 2006
 
 2005
 
     
 (Dollars in thousands)
 
                             
 
Analytical Technologies
 
$
2,425,821
   
64.0%
 
$
2,006,744
   
76.2%
 
 
Laboratory Products and Services
   
1,406,637
   
37.1%
 
 
626,283
   
23.8 %
 
 
Eliminations
   
(40,841
)
 
(1.1 )%
 
 
   
 
                             
     
$
3,791,617
   
100%
 
$
2,633,027
   
100%
 

The company’s revenues grew by 44% during 2006, including 32% from the Fisher merger. The weakening of the dollar relative to non-U.S. currencies also caused an increase in reported revenues. In addition to the change in revenues caused by acquisitions, net of divestitures and currency translation, which are discussed below, sales increased 6% in 2006, primarily due to increased demand and, to a lesser extent, higher prices.

The company’s strategy is to augment internal growth at existing businesses with complementary acquisitions such as those completed in 2006 and 2005. In addition to the merger with Fisher, the principal acquisitions included Cohesive Technologies Inc., a provider of advanced sample extraction and liquid chromatography products in December 2006; GV Instruments Limited, a manufacturer of isotope ratio mass spectrometers, which was acquired in July 2006; EGS Gauging, Inc., a provider of flat polymer web gauging products, which was acquired in June 2006; Ionalytics Corporation, a provider of an ion-filtering device used with mass spectrometers, which was acquired in August 2005; the Kendro Laboratory Products division of SPX Corporation, a provider of a wide range of laboratory equipment for sample preparation, processing and storage, which was acquired in May 2005; Rupprecht and Patashnick Co., Inc. (R&P), a provider of continuous particulate monitoring instrumentation for the ambient air, emissions monitoring and industrial hygiene markets, which was acquired in April 2005; and Niton LLC, a provider of portable X-ray analyzers to the metals, petrochemical and environmental markets, which was acquired in March 2005.

In 2006, the company’s operating income and operating income margin were $242 million and 6.4%, respectively, compared with $263 million and 10.0%, respectively, in 2005. (Operating income margin is operating income divided by revenues.) The decrease in operating income and operating income margin was due to $125 million of pretax charges associated with the Fisher merger, described below, and $93 million of higher amortization expense, principally due to the Fisher merger. These items were offset in part by the inclusion of Fisher’s results from November 9, 2006 and higher profitability at existing businesses due to increased revenues, productivity improvements including lower costs following restructuring actions and, to a lesser extent, price increases. The company’s effective tax rate was 20.6% and 30.6% in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2006 compared with 2005 was primarily due to geographic changes in profits, in particular lower income in the United States due to charges associated with the Fisher merger, partially offset by non-deductible merger related costs. The provision for income taxes in 2005 includes $4 million for the estimated effect of tax audits of prior years in a non-U.S. country. This charge increased the effective tax rate in 2005 by 1.5 percentage points.

Income from continuing operations decreased to $166 million in 2006, from $198 million in 2005, primarily due to the items discussed above that reduced operating income in 2006 and the inclusion of gains on the sale of investments in 2005, offset in part by a lower effective tax rate in 2006.

During 2006, the company’s cash flow from operations totaled $406 million, compared with $271 million in 2005. The increase resulted from improved cash flow at existing business and, to a lesser extent, cash flow from the Fisher business, net of $157 million in merger-related operating cash outflows including severance and retirement benefits as well as transaction costs incurred by Fisher that were paid subsequent to November 9, 2006.

 
As of December 31, 2006, the company’s outstanding debt totaled $2.7 billion, of which 77% is due in 2009 and thereafter. The company expects that its existing cash and short-term investments of $691 million as of December 31, 2006, and the company’s future cash flow from operations together with available unsecured borrowing capacity of up to $635 million under its existing 5-year revolving credit agreement are sufficient to meet the working capital requirements of its existing businesses for the foreseeable future, including at least the next 24 months.
 
Critical Accounting Policies

The company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations is based upon its financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosure of contingent liabilities. On an on-going basis, the company evaluates its estimates, including those related to equity investments, bad debts, sales returns, inventories, business combinations, intangible assets, warranty obligations, income taxes, pension costs, contingencies and litigation, equity-based compensation, restructuring and sale of businesses. The company bases its estimates on historical experience, current market and economic conditions and other assumptions that management believes are reasonable. The results of these estimates form the basis for judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities where the values are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The company believes the following represent its critical accounting policies and estimates used in the preparation of its financial statements:

(a)    
Accounts Receivable

   
The company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to pay amounts due. Such allowances totaled $45 million at December 31, 2006. The company estimates the amount of customer receivables that are uncollectible based on the age of the
   
receivable, the creditworthiness of the customer and any other information that is relevant to the judgment. If the financial condition of the company’s customers were to deteriorate, reducing their ability to make payments, additional allowances would be required.

 
(b)
Inventories

   
The company writes down its inventories for estimated obsolescence for differences between the cost and estimated net realizable value taking into consideration usage in the preceding 12 months, expected demand and any other information that is relevant to the judgment. If ultimate usage or demand vary significantly from expected usage or demand, additional writedowns may be required.

 
(c)
Intangible Assets and Goodwill

   
The company uses assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. A significant portion of the purchase price in many of the company’s acquisitions is assigned to intangible assets that require that use of significant judgment in determining (i) fair value; and (ii) whether such intangibles are amortizable or non-amortizable and, if the former, the period and the method by which the intangible asset will be amortized. The company estimates the fair value of acquisition-related intangible assets principally based on projections of cash flows that will arise from identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses. The projected cash flows are discounted to determine the present value of the assets at the dates of acquisition. Amortizable intangible assets totaled $6.18 billion at December 31, 2006. Actual cash flows arising from a particular intangible asset could vary from projected cash flows which could imply different carrying values and annual amortization expense from those established at the dates of acquisition and which could result in impairment of such asset. The company reviews other intangible assets for impairment when indication of potential impairment exists, such as a significant reduction in cash flows associated with the assets.

 
   
The company evaluates goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually and when events occur or circumstances change that may reduce the value of the asset below its carrying amount using forecasts of discounted future cash flows. Events or circumstances that might require an interim evaluation include unexpected adverse business conditions, economic factors, unanticipated technological changes or competitive activities, loss of key personnel and acts by governments and courts. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $8.52 billion and $1.33 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2006. Estimates of future cash flows require assumptions related to revenue and operating income growth, asset-related expenditures, working capital levels and other factors. Different assumptions from those made in the company’s analysis could materially affect projected cash flows and the company’s evaluation of goodwill for impairment. Should the fair value of the company’s goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets decline because of reduced operating performance, market declines, or other indicators of impairment, or as a result of changes in the discount rate, charges for impairment may be necessary.

 
(d)
Other Long-Lived Assets

   
The company reviews other long-lived assets for impairment when indication of potential impairment exists, such as a significant reduction in cash flows associated with the assets. Other long-lived assets totaled $1.57 billion at December 31, 2006, including $1.26 billion of fixed assets. In testing a long-lived asset for impairment, assumptions are made concerning projected cash flows associated with the asset. Estimates of future cash flows require assumptions related to revenue and operating income growth and asset-related expenditures associated with the asset being reviewed for impairment. Should future cash flows decline significantly from estimated amounts, charges for impairment of other long-lived assets may be necessary.

 
(e)
Revenues

   
In instances where the company sells equipment with a related installation obligation, the company generally recognizes revenue related to the equipment when title passes. The company recognizes revenue related to the installation when it performs the installation. The allocation of revenue between the equipment and the installation is based on relative fair value at the time of sale. Should the fair value of either the equipment or the installation change, the company’s revenue recognition would be affected. If fair value is not available for any undelivered element, revenue for all elements is deferred until delivery is completed.

   
In instances where the company sells equipment with customer-specified acceptance criteria, the company must assess whether it can demonstrate adherence to the acceptance criteria prior to the customer’s acceptance testing to determine the timing of revenue recognition. If the nature of customer-specified acceptance criteria were to change or grow in complexity such that the company could not demonstrate adherence, the company would be required to defer additional revenues upon shipment of its products until completion of customer acceptance testing.

   
The company’s software license agreements generally include multiple products and services, or “elements.” The company recognizes software license revenue based on the residual method after all elements have either been delivered or vendor specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair value exists for
   
any undelivered elements. In the event VSOE is not available for any undelivered element, revenue for all elements is deferred until delivery is completed. Revenues from software maintenance and support contracts are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract. VSOE of fair value of software maintenance and support is determined based on the price charged for the maintenance and support when sold separately. Revenues from training and consulting services are recognized as services are performed, based on VSOE, which is determined by reference to the price customers pay when the services are sold separately.

   
The company records reductions to revenue for estimated product returns by customers. Should a greater or lesser number of products be returned, additional adjustments to revenue may be required.

 
 
(f)
Warranty Obligations

   
At the time the company recognizes revenue, it provides for the estimated cost of product warranties based primarily on historical experience and knowledge of any specific warranty problems that indicate projected warranty costs may vary from historical patterns. The liability for warranty obligations of the company’s continuing operations totaled $45 million at December 31, 2006. Should product failure rates or the actual cost of correcting product failures vary from estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be necessary.

 
(g)
Income Taxes

   
The company operates in numerous countries under many legal forms and as a result, is subject to the jurisdiction of numerous domestic and non-U.S. tax authorities, as well as to tax agreements and treaties among these governments. Determination of taxable income in any jurisdiction requires the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and the use of estimates and assumptions regarding significant future events, such as the amount, timing and character of deductions, permissible revenue recognition methods under the tax law and the sources and character of income and tax credits. Changes in tax laws, regulations, agreements and treaties, currency exchange restrictions or our level of operations or profitability in each taxing jurisdiction could have an impact upon the amount of current and deferred tax balances and hence the company’s net income.

   
The company estimates the degree to which tax assets and loss carryforwards will result in a benefit based on expected profitability by tax jurisdiction, and provides a valuation allowance for tax assets and loss carryforwards that it believes will more likely than not go unused. If it becomes more likely than not that a tax asset or loss carryforward will be used, the company reverses the related valuation allowance with an offset generally to goodwill as most of the tax attributes arose from acquisitions. The company’s tax valuation allowance totaled $195 million at December 31, 2006. Should the company’s actual future taxable income by tax jurisdiction vary from estimates, additional allowances or reversals thereof may be necessary.

   
The company provides a liability for future income tax payments in the worldwide tax jurisdictions in which it operates. Accrued income taxes totaled $60 million at December 31, 2006. Should tax return positions that the company expects are sustainable not be sustained upon audit, the company could be required to record an incremental tax provision for such taxes. Should previously unrecognized tax benefits ultimately be sustained, a reduction in the company’s tax provision would result.

 
(h)
Contingencies and Litigation

   
The company records accruals for various contingencies, including legal proceedings, environmental, workers’ compensation, product, general and auto liabilities, self-insurance and other claims that arise in the normal course of business. The accruals are based on management’s judgment, historical claims experience, the probability of losses and, where applicable, the consideration of opinions of internal and or external legal counsel and actuarial estimates. Reserves of Fisher, including environmental reserves, were initially recorded at their fair value and as such were discounted to their net present value. Additionally, we record receivables from third-party insurers when recovery has been determined to be probable.

 
(i)
Pension and Other Retiree Benefits

   
Several of the company’s U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries sponsor defined benefit pension and other retiree benefit plans. The cost and obligations of these arrangements are calculated using many assumptions to estimate the benefits that the employee earns while working, the amount of which cannot be

 
   
completely determined until the benefit payments cease. Major assumptions used in the accounting for these employee benefit plans include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets and rate of increase in employee compensation levels. Assumptions are determined based on company data and appropriate market indicators in consultation with third party actuaries, and are evaluated each year as of the plans’ measurement date. Net periodic pension costs for the company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans totaled $16 million in 2006 and the company’s unfunded benefit obligation totaled $237 million at year-end 2006. Should any of these assumptions change, they would have an effect on net periodic pension costs and the unfunded benefit obligation. For example, a 10% decrease in the discount rate would result in an annual increase in pension and other postretirement benefit expense of approximately $2 million and an increase in the benefit obligation of approximately $101 million.

 
(j)
Equity-based Compensation

   
The fair value of each stock option granted by the company is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Use of a valuation model requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Management estimates expected volatility based on the historical volatility of the company’s stock. The expected life of a grant is estimated using the simplified method for “plain vanilla” options as permitted by SAB 107. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term which approximates the expected life assumed at the date of grant. Changes in these input variables would affect the amount of expense associated with stock-based compensation. The compensation expense recognized for all equity-based awards is net of estimated forfeitures. The company estimates forfeiture rates based on historical analysis of option forfeitures. If actual forfeitures should vary from estimated forfeitures, adjustments to compensation expense may be required.

 
(k)
Restructuring Costs

   
The company records restructuring charges for the cost of vacating facilities based on future lease obligations and expected sub-rental income. The company’s accrued restructuring costs for abandoned facilities in continuing operations totaled $12 million at December 31, 2006. Should actual cash flows associated with sub-rental income from vacated facilities vary from estimated amounts, adjustments may be required.

 
(l)
Assets Held for Sale

   
The company estimates the expected proceeds from any assets held for sale and, when necessary, records losses to reduce the carrying value of these assets to estimated realizable value. Should the actual or estimated proceeds, which would include post-closing purchase price adjustments, vary from current estimates, results could differ from expected amounts.

 
Results of Operations

2006 Compared With 2005

Continuing Operations

Sales in 2006 were $3.792 billion, an increase of $1.159 billion (44%) from 2005. Sales increased $978 million due to acquisitions (principally Fisher), net of divestitures. The favorable effects of currency translation resulted in an increase in revenues of $18 million in 2006. Aside from the effect of acquisitions, net of divestitures, and currency translation, revenues increased $163 million (6%) primarily due to increased demand, and to a lesser extent, price increases, as described by segment below. Growth was strong in Asia and Europe and moderate in North America.

 
Operating Income Margin
   
2006
   
2005
 
                 
 
Consolidated
   
6.4%
 
 
10.0%
 

In 2006, operating income and operating income margin were $242 million and 6.4%, respectively, compared with $263 million and 10.0%, respectively, in 2005. The decrease in operating income and operating income margin was due to $125 million of pretax charges associated with the Fisher merger and $93 million of higher amortization expense, principally due to the Fisher merger. The $125 million of charges includes $73 million of charges to cost of revenues for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of the merger, $37 million of accelerated equity-based compensation due to a change in control occurring at the merger date and $15 million of in-process research and development at Fisher on the date of the merger. The unfavorable effect of these items was offset in part by the inclusion of Fisher’s results from November 9, 2006, through the end of the year and higher profitability at existing businesses due to increased revenue, productivity improvements, including lower costs following restructuring actions and, to a lesser extent, price increases.

Restructuring and other costs were recorded in 2006 and 2005. Restructuring costs in 2005 were primarily for reductions in staffing levels at existing businesses resulting from the integration of Kendro and the consolidation of two facilities in Texas, as well as charges associated with actions initiated prior to 2005 that could not be recorded until incurred and adjustments to previously provided reserves due to changes in estimates of amounts due for abandoned facilities, net of expected sub-tenant rental income. Restructuring actions undertaken prior to 2005 were substantially complete at the end of 2004. Aside from the $15 million charge for in-process research and development existing at Fisher on the date of merger, discussed above, restructuring costs in 2006 include charges to close a plant in Massachusetts and consolidate its operations with those of an acquired Kendro facility in North Carolina, charges for consolidation of a U.K. facility into an existing factory in Germany, the move of manufacturing operations in New Mexico to other plants in the U.S. and Europe and remaining costs of prior actions. The company is finalizing its plan for potential restructuring actions that may be undertaken at Fisher or within existing businesses with which Fisher is being integrated. Such actions may include rationalization of product lines, consolidation of facilities and reductions in staffing levels. The cost of actions at Fisher businesses is being charged to the cost of the acquisition, while the cost of actions at existing businesses being integrated with Fisher is charged to expense. The company expects to finalize its restructuring plans for Fisher no later than one year from the date of merger. The company has finalized its plans for integrating Kendro with its existing business and expects that charges to expense will ultimately total approximately $16 million, of which $15 million has been recorded as of December 31, 2006, with the balance to be recorded as incurred. Also, the company has identified actions totaling $5 million that will be undertaken in 2007. The restructuring actions initiated in 2006 resulted in annual cost savings beginning in the second half of 2006 and early 2007 of approximately $11 million, including $6 million in the Analytical Technologies segment and $5 million in the Laboratory Products and Services segment.

 
In 2006, the company recorded restructuring and other costs, net, of $123 million, including $78 million of charges to cost of revenues consisting of $75 million for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition (principally Fisher) and $3 million for accelerated depreciation on fixed assets being abandoned due to facility consolidations. The company incurred $30 million of cash costs, primarily for severance, abandoned facilities and relocation expenses at businesses that have been consolidated. As discussed above, the company recorded a charge of $15 million for in-process research and development at Fisher on the merger date. In 2005, the company recorded restructuring and other costs, net, of $30 million, including charges to cost of revenues of $13 million primarily for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition. The company incurred $23 million of cash costs, primarily for severance, abandoned facilities and relocation expenses in connection with the integration of Kendro with existing businesses. In addition, the company recorded a gain of $8 million primarily from the sale of six abandoned buildings and a charge of $2 million principally for the writedown of a building held for sale (Note 15).

Acquisition-related intangible assets of $7.2 billion arose from the merger with Fisher, including $5.9 billion of amortizable intangible assets. The company expects that amortization expense associated with the Fisher intangible assets will total approximately $470 million per year.

In July 2006, the company acquired GV Instruments Limited (GVI), a UK-based provider of mass spectrometry instruments and accessories for $17.5 million, net of cash acquired and a post-closing refund of $4.6 million received in January 2007. Subsequent to the acquisition of GVI, the UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) commenced an investigation of the transaction to determine whether it qualified for consideration under the UK Enterprise Act. On December 15, 2006, the OFT referred the transaction to the UK Competition Commission for further investigation under the Enterprise Act to determine whether the transaction results in, or may be expected to result in, a substantial lessening of competition within any market in the UK for goods or services, particularly gas isotope ratio mass spectrometers, thermal ionization mass spectrometers and multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers. Of GVI’s sales of $19 million in its fiscal 2006, $0.4 million were UK sales. The Competition Commission must prepare and publish its report within 24 weeks of the reference decision unless there are special reasons why it cannot do so. During the investigation, the company is subject to certain undertakings, which took effect October 2006, that require it not take any action that will lead to further integration of the GVI business with the company or otherwise impair the GVI business from competing independently. The company is cooperating with the Competition Commission’s investigation. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of this matter. Were the Competition Commission to require that the company divest of GVI, charges for impairment of assets could result. Goodwill and intangible assets recorded as a result of the acquisition of GVI totaled approximately $22 million.



 
Segment Results

       
2006
   
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Revenues:
                 
 
Analytical Technologies
 
$
2,425,821
 
$
2,006,744
 
21%
 
 
Laboratory Products and Services
   
1,406,637
   
626,283
 
125%
 
 
Eliminations
   
(40,841
)
 
     
                     
 
Consolidated Revenues
 
$
3,791,617
 
$
2,633,027
 
44%
 
                     
 
Operating Income:
                 
 
Analytical Technologies
 
$
383,640
 
$
284,666
 
35%
 
 
Laboratory Products and Services
   
189,229
   
86,600
 
119%
 
 
Other
   
   
148
     
                     
 
Subtotal Reportable Segments
   
572,869
   
371,414
 
54%
 
                     
 
Cost of Revenues Charges
   
(77,625
)
 
(13,387
)
   
 
Restructuring and Other Costs, Net
   
(45,712
)
 
(16,900
)
   
 
Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets
   
(170,826
)
 
(77,640
)
   
 
Stock Option Compensation Acceleration Charge
   
(36,747
)
 
     
                     
 
Consolidated Operating Income
 
$
241,959
 
$
263,487
 
(8)%
 

The company’s management evaluates segment operating performance using operating income before certain charges to cost of revenues, principally associated with acquisition accounting; restructuring and other costs/income including costs arising from facility consolidations such as severance and abandoned lease expense and gains and losses from the sale of real estate and product lines; amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; and charges for the acceleration of stock option compensation resulting from a change in control. The company uses these measures because they help management understand and evaluate the segments’ core operating results and facilitate comparison of performance for determining compensation (Note 3).

Analytical Technologies
       
2006
   
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands) 
                     
 
Revenues
 
$
2,425,821
 
$
2,006,744
 
21%
 
                     
 
Operating Income Margin
   
15.8%
 
 
14.2%
 
1.6 pts.
 

Sales in the Analytical Technologies segment increased $419 million to $2.426 billion in 2006. Sales increased $249 million due to the Fisher merger and other acquisitions, net of divestitures. The favorable effects of currency translation resulted in an increase in revenues of $10 million in 2006. In addition to the changes in revenue resulting from acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation, revenues increased $160 million (8%) due to higher broad-based demand from life science and industrial customers combined with strong market response to new products and, to a lesser extent, price increases. Growth was particularly strong in sales of mass spectrometry and spectroscopy instruments and, to a lesser extent, anatomical pathology products and equipment sold in commodity markets such as steel, petroleum and cement.

Operating income margin was 15.8% in 2006 and 14.2% in 2005. The increase resulted from profit on incremental revenues, and to a lesser extent, price increases and productivity improvements, including cost-reduction measures following restructuring actions. Had stock option compensation been recorded as expense in 2005, the operating income margin in 2005 would have been 13.4%.

 
Laboratory Products and Services
       
2006
   
2005
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands) 
                     
 
Revenues
 
$
1,406,637
 
$
626,283
 
125%
 
                     
 
Operating Income Margin
   
13.5%
 
 
13.8%
 
(0.3) pts.
 

Sales in the Laboratory Products and Services segment increased $780 million to $1.407 billion in 2006. Sales increased $769 million due to the Fisher merger and other acquisitions, net of divestitures. The favorable effects of currency translation resulted in an increase in revenues of $8 million in 2006. In addition to the changes in revenue resulting from acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation, revenues increased $3 million due to an increase in demand for laboratory equipment.

Operating income margin decreased to 13.5% in 2006 from 13.8% in 2005, primarily due to the inclusion of stock option compensation in 2006 following adoption of SFAS No. 123R, offset in part by price increases and productivity improvements, including restructuring actions. Had stock option compensation been recorded as expense in 2005, the operating income margin in 2005 would have been 13.1%.

Other Income (Expense), Net

The company reported other expense, net, of $33 million in 2006 and other income, net, of $22 million in 2005 (Note 4). Other income (expense), net, includes interest income, interest expense, gain on investments, net, equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries and other items, net. Interest income increased to $16 million in 2006 from $12 million in 2005, primarily due to higher invested cash balances from operating cash flow and, to a lesser extent, increased market interest rates, offset in part by cash used to fund acquisitions. Interest expense increased to $52 million in 2006 from $27 million in 2005, as a result of debt assumed in the merger with Fisher and, to a lesser extent, a full year of debt used to partially fund the Kendro acquisition and higher rates associated with the company’s variable-rate debt.

During 2006 and 2005, the company had gains on investments, net, of $1 million and $35 million, respectively. The gains included $29 million in 2005 from the sale of shares of Thoratec Corporation and a loss of $1 million in 2005 from the sale of shares of Newport Corporation, in addition to other gains from the company’s investment portfolio activity. The company obtained common shares of Thoratec as part of the sale of Thermo Cardiosystems Inc. in 2001 and obtained the shares of Newport as part of the sale of Spectra-Physics in 2004. Following the sale of shares in 2005, the company no longer owns shares of Thoratec or Newport. Other income in 2006 and 2005 also includes net currency transaction gains and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries.

Provision for Income Taxes

The company’s effective tax rate was 20.6% and 30.6% in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2006 compared with 2005 was primarily due to geographic changes in profits, in particular lower income in the United States due to charges associated with the Fisher merger, partially offset by non-deductible merger related costs. The provision for income taxes in 2005 includes $4 million for the estimated effect of a tax audit of prior years in a non-U.S. country. The effect of this charge increased the effective tax rate in 2005 by 1.5 percentage points.


 
Contingent Liabilities

At year-end 2006, the company was contingently liable with respect to certain legal proceedings and related matters. As described under “Litigation and Related Contingencies” in Note 11, an unfavorable outcome in the matters described therein could materially affect the company’s financial position as well as its results of operations and cash flows.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

As of January 1, 2006, the company adopted SFAS No. 123R “Share-based Payment.” The standard requires that companies record as expense the effect of equity-based compensation over the applicable vesting period. The company adopted the standard using the modified prospective application transition method. Under this transition method, the compensation cost recognized beginning January 1, 2006 includes compensation cost for (i) all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, and (ii) all share-based payments granted subsequent to December 31, 2005 based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R. Compensation cost is recognized ratably over the requisite vesting period or, for 2006 grants, to the retirement date for retirement eligible employees, if earlier. Prior period amounts have not been restated. The company recorded $62 million of pre-tax expense in 2006 for stock options, including $34 million the recognition of which was accelerated into 2006 as a result of the merger with Fisher causing a change in control. The stock option costs of $62 million included $7 million in cost of revenues, $51 million in selling, general and administrative expenses and $4 million in research and development expenses. As of December 31, 2006, the company had $133 million ($85 million, net of tax) of total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested equity awards, including unvested awards at Fisher on the date of merger that converted into awards exercisable over various vesting periods into shares of company common stock. The cost is expected to be recognized over approximately 3 years.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefits Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132R.” SFAS No. 158 requires an employer to recognize the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans as an asset or liability. The company adopted SFAS No. 158 as of December 31, 2006. The effect of adoption resulted in increases in total assets of $14 million, total liabilities of $9 million and stockholders’ equity of $5 million.

In July 2006, the FASB released FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN No. 48). FIN No. 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. Under FIN No. 48, the financial statements will reflect expected future tax consequences of such positions presuming the taxing authorities’ full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts, but without discounting for the time value of money. FIN No. 48 also revises disclosure requirements and introduces a prescriptive, annual, tabular roll-forward of the unrecognized tax benefits. FIN No. 48 will become effective in the first quarter of 2007. The company does not expect the effect of adoption to be material.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for the company in 2008. The company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting SFAS No. 157.

 
Discontinued Operations

The company’s discontinued operations reported after-tax income of $0.5 million in 2006, representing the results of two small Fisher businesses held for sale.

The company had after-tax gains of $2 million in 2006 and $25 million in 2005 from the disposal of discontinued operations. The 2006 gains represent additional proceeds from the sale of several businesses prior to 2004, net of a charge for the settlement of an indemnification claim that arose from a divested business.

An after-tax gain of $17 million arose from the September 2005 sale of the company’s point of care and rapid diagnostics business for $53 million in cash. Revenues and pre-tax loss of the divested business totaled $30 million and $1 million, respectively, in 2004 and revenues and pre-tax income totaled $27 million and $1 million, respectively, in 2005 through the date of sale. Due to the immateriality of the operating results of this business relative to consolidated results, the company has not reclassified the historical results and accounts of this business to discontinued operations. In addition to the sale of this business, the company had after-tax gains aggregating $8 million in 2005 from the sale of abandoned real estate; additional proceeds from the sale of businesses divested prior to 2004, including the sale of abandoned real estate and post-closing adjustments; and the settlement of litigation and an arbitration award related to a divested business.

2005 Compared With 2004

Continuing Operations

Sales in 2005 were $2.633 billion, an increase of $427 million (19%) from 2004. Sales increased $337 million (15%) due to acquisitions, net of divestitures. The unfavorable effects of currency translation resulted in a decrease in revenues of $4.5 million in 2005. Aside from the effect of acquisitions, net of divestitures, and currency translation, revenues increased $94 million (4%) primarily due to increased demand, and to a lesser extent, price increases, as described by segment below. Growth was strong in Asia and moderate in North America and Europe.

 
Operating Income Margin
 
2005
 
2004
 
             
 
Consolidated
 
10.0%
 
10.8%
 

Operating income was $263 million in 2005, compared with $238 million in 2004. Operating income increased due to higher sales, including revenues from acquisitions, offset in part by the items discussed below. Operating income margin decreased to 10.0% in 2005 from 10.8% in 2004, primarily due to $55 million of higher amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets and $10 million of higher charges to cost of revenues, primarily for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition. These factors were offset in part by higher profitability from the increase in revenues and, to a lesser extent, price increases.

In 2005, the company recorded restructuring and other costs, net, of $30 million, including charges to cost of revenues of $13 million, primarily for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition. The company incurred $23 million of cash costs, primarily for severance, abandoned facilities and relocation expenses in connection with the integration of Kendro with existing businesses. In addition, the company recorded a gain of $8 million, primarily from the sale of six abandoned buildings and a charge of $2 million, principally for the writedown of a building held for sale. In 2004, the company recorded restructuring and other costs, net, of $19 million, including charges to cost of revenues of $3 million, consisting of $2 million for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition of Jouan and $1 million of accelerated depreciation on fixed assets being abandoned due to facility consolidations. The company incurred $17 million of cash costs, primarily for severance, abandoned facilities and relocation expenses at businesses that have been consolidated. In addition, the company recorded a gain of $3 million on the sale of a product line and a loss of $1 million from the writedown of abandoned equipment and the sale of two abandoned buildings.

 
Segment Results

       
2005
   
2004
 
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands) 
 
Revenues:
                 
 
Analytical Technologies
 
$
2,006,744
 
$
1,814,647
 
11%
 
 
Laboratory Products and Services
   
626,283
   
391,348
 
60%
 
                     
 
Consolidated Revenues
 
$
2,633,027
 
$
2,205,995
 
19%
 
                     
 
Operating Income:
                 
 
Analytical Technologies
 
$
284,666
 
$
237,018
 
20%
 
 
Laboratory Products and Services
   
86,600
   
42,515
 
104%
 
 
Other
   
148
   
     
                     
 
Subtotal Reportable Segments
   
371,414
   
279,533
 
33%
 
                     
 
Cost of Revenues Charges
   
(13,387
)
 
(3,361
)
   
 
Restructuring and Other Costs, Net
   
(16,900
)
 
(15,829
)
   
 
Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets
   
(77,640
)
 
(22,831
)
   
                     
 
Consolidated Operating Income
 
$
263,487
 
$
237,512
 
11%
 

Analytical Technologies
       
2005
   
2004
   
Change
 
   
(Dollars in thousands) 
                       
 
Revenues
 
$
2,006,744
 
$
1,814,647
   
11%
 
                       
 
Operating Income Margin
   
14.2%
 
 
13.1%
 
 
1.1 pts.
 

Sales in the Analytical Technologies segment increased $192 million (11%) to $2.007 billion in 2005. Sales increased $96 million due to acquisitions, net of divestitures. The unfavorable effects of currency translation resulted in a decrease in revenues of $4 million in 2005. In addition to the changes in revenue resulting from acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation, revenues increased $100 million (6%) due to higher broad-based demand from life science and industrial customers combined with strong market response to new products and, to a lesser extent, price increases. Growth was particularly strong in sales of mass spectrometry and spectroscopy instruments; and, to a lesser extent, equipment sold to commodity markets including steel, petroleum and cement; instruments used in environmental and security applications; and anatomical pathology products.

Operating income margin was 14.2% in 2005 and 13.1% in 2004. The increase resulted from profit on incremental revenue, and to a lesser extent, price increases and productivity improvements, including cost reduction measures following restructuring actions.

 
Laboratory Products and Services
       
2005
   
2004
   
Change
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands) 
                       
 
Revenues
 
$
626,283
 
$
391,348
   
60%
 
                       
 
Operating Income Margin
   
13.8%
 
 
10.9%
 
 
2.9 pts.
 

Sales in the Laboratory Products and Services segment increased $235 million (60%) to $626 million in 2005. Sales increased $241 million due to acquisitions (principally Kendro), net of divestitures. Currency translation had an immaterial effect on revenues. In addition to the changes in revenue resulting from acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation, revenues decreased $6 million (1.5%) due to slightly lower demand for laboratory equipment used for sample preparation, processing and storage.

Operating income margin increased to 13.8% in 2005 from 10.9% in 2004. The increase resulted from inclusion of higher margin revenues from Kendro as well as productivity improvements, including cost reduction measures following restructuring actions.

Other Income, Net

The company reported other income, net, of $22 million both in 2005 and 2004 (Note 4). Interest income increased to $12 million in 2005 from $9 million in 2004, primarily due to higher invested cash balances following the sale of Spectra-Physics in July 2004 and, to a lesser extent, increased market interest rates, offset in part by cash used to fund acquisitions. Interest expense increased to $27 million in 2005 from $11 million in 2004, as a result of debt used to partially fund the Kendro acquisition and, to a lesser extent, higher rates associated with the company’s variable-rate debt.

During 2005 and 2004, the company had gains on investments, net, of $35 million and $21 million, respectively. The gains included $29 million in 2005 and $10 million in 2004 from the sale of shares of Thoratec and a loss of $1 million in 2005 from the sale of shares of Newport, in addition to other gains from the company’s investment portfolio activity. Other income in 2005 and 2004 also includes net currency transaction gains and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries.

Provision for Income Taxes

The company’s effective tax rate was 30.6% and 15.8% in 2005 and 2004, respectively. The provision for income taxes in 2005 includes $4 million for the estimated effect of a tax audit of prior years in a non-U.S. country. The effect of this charge increased the effective tax rate in 2005 by 1.5 percentage points. The effective tax rate was lower in 2004 primarily due to $34 million of tax benefits associated with the completion of tax audits. The company’s federal tax returns and those of several subsidiaries were under audit for the period 1998 to 2000. In 2004 and early 2005, the IRS and the company reached final settlements of the audits and the company determined that previously unrecognized tax benefits were realizable. In addition, audits of state tax returns were also completed in 2004. This tax benefit reduced the company’s effective tax rate in 2004 by 13.0 percentage points.

Discontinued Operations

The company had after-tax gains of $25 million in 2005 and $100 million in 2004 from the disposal of discontinued operations and $43 million of after-tax income in 2004 from discontinued operations.

An after-tax gain of $17 million arose from the September 2005 sale of the company’s point of care and rapid diagnostics business for $53 million in cash. Revenues and pre-tax loss of the divested business totaled $30 million and $1 million, respectively, in 2004 and revenues and pre-tax income totaled $27 million and $1

 
million, respectively, in 2005 through the date of sale. In addition to the sale of this business, the company had after-tax gains aggregating $8 million in 2005 from the sale of abandoned real estate; additional proceeds from the sale of businesses divested prior to 2004, including the sale of abandoned real estate and post-closing adjustments; and the settlement of litigation and an arbitration award related to a divested business.

In July 2004, the company completed the sale of its Optical Technologies segment, Spectra-Physics, to Newport. The company has reclassified the results of Spectra-Physics as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the accompanying financial statements.

The company’s discontinued operations (Spectra-Physics) had revenues through the date of sale of $119 million in 2004. Net income of the discontinued operations through the date of sale in 2004 was $4.5 million, net of a tax provision of $2 million. As a result of the decision to sell Spectra-Physics, a previously unrecognized tax asset arising from the difference between the book and tax basis of Spectra-Physics became realizable and the company recorded a tax benefit as income from discontinued operations totaling $38.5 million in 2004. In addition, the company recorded a gain on the sale of Spectra-Physics of $46 million, net of a tax provision of $16 million.

The tax returns of the company and its former Trex Medical and ThermoLase businesses were under audit by the IRS. In 2004 and early 2005, the IRS and the company reached final settlements of the audits and the company determined that previously unrecognized tax benefits associated with the divested businesses totaling $53 million were realizable. These tax benefits were recorded as a gain on the disposal of discontinued operations in 2004.

In addition to the 2004 gains discussed above, the company had $1 million of after-tax gains and $1 million of tax benefits associated with discontinued operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

Consolidated working capital was $1.507 billion at December 31, 2006, compared with $562 million at December 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to working capital acquired in the merger with Fisher. Included in working capital were cash, cash equivalents and short-term available-for-sale investments of $691 million at December 31, 2006, compared with $295 million at December 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to cash acquired in the merger with Fisher. 

2006

Cash provided by operating activities was $406 million during 2006, including $407 million provided by continuing operations. A reduction in current liabilities used cash of $148 million, primarily as a result of merger-related payments made following completion of the transaction totaling $157 million, including executive severance and retirement benefits, and transaction costs incurred by Fisher. Cash of $32 million was provided by collections on accounts receivable. Payments for restructuring actions of the company’s continuing operations, principally severance, lease costs and other expenses of real estate consolidation, used cash of $30 million during 2006.

In connection with restructuring actions undertaken by continuing operations, the company had accrued $20 million for restructuring costs at December 31, 2006. The company expects to pay approximately $7 million of this amount for severance and retention, primarily through 2007, and $1 million for other costs, primarily through 2007. The balance of $12 million will be paid for lease obligations over the remaining terms of the leases, with approximately 67% to be paid through 2007 and the remainder through 2013. In addition, at December 31, 2006, the company had accrued $35 million for acquisition expenses. Accrued acquisition expenses included $30 million of severance and relocation obligations, which the company expects to pay primarily through 2007. The remaining balance primarily represents abandoned-facility payments that will be paid over the remaining terms of the leases through 2014.

 
During 2006, the primary investing activities of the company’s continuing operations, excluding available-for-sale investment activities, included acquisitions, the purchase of property, plant and equipment and the sale of product lines. Cash acquired in the merger with Fisher totaled $360 million, net of transaction costs. The company expended $132 million on acquisitions and $77 million for purchases of property, plant and equipment. The company partially liquidated assets totaling $40 million in a Fisher retirement trust to fund payments that were due to former Fisher executives following the merger. The company had proceeds from the sale of product lines of $9 million. Investing activities of the company’s discontinued operations provided $5 million of cash during 2006, primarily additional proceeds from a business divested prior to 2004. In January 2007, the company acquired two businesses for an aggregate of $20 million. In February 2007, Newport repaid in full its note payable to the company, totaling $48 million.

The company’s financing activities used $260 million of cash during 2006, principally for the repurchase of $300 million of the company’s common stock and the repayment of $335 million of debt, offset in part by short-term borrowing and proceeds of stock option exercises. The company increased short-term borrowings by $177 million in 2006. The company had proceeds of $180 million from the exercise of employee stock options and $17 million of tax benefits from the exercise of stock options. In 2006, the company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $300 million of the company’s common stock through February 28, 2007. At December 31, 2006, no remaining authorization existed for future repurchases. In February 2007, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of the company’s common stock through February 28, 2008.

The company has no material commitments for purchases of property, plant and equipment and expects that for all of 2007, such expenditures will approximate $240 - $260 million. On August 29, 2006, the company negotiated a new $1 billion revolving credit agreement that became effective at the time of the merger with Fisher and replaced the company’s existing credit facilities. At December 31, 2006, borrowings of $635 million were available under the revolving credit agreement. The company believes that its existing resources, including cash and investments, future cash flow from operations, and available borrowings under its existing revolving credit facilities, are sufficient to meet the working capital requirements of its existing businesses for the foreseeable future, including at least the next 24 months.

2005

Cash provided by operating activities was $271 million during 2005, including $273 million provided by continuing operations and $2 million used by discontinued operations. Cash of $24 million was provided by an increase in other current liabilities, primarily accrued payroll and benefits due to the timing of payments, and deferred revenue, pending completion of obligations to customers. Income tax payments of approximately $13 million arose from taxes on gains on the sale of investments. The company contributed $11 million of funding to a U.K. pension plan in June 2005 (Note 5). Payments for restructuring actions of the company’s continuing operations, principally severance, lease costs and other expenses of real estate consolidation, used cash of $20 million in 2005.

During 2005, the primary investing activities of the company’s continuing operations, excluding available-for-sale investment activities, included acquisitions and the purchase and sale of property, plant and equipment. The company expended $933 million, net of cash acquired, for the acquisitions of Niton, R&P, Kendro and Ionalytics (Note 2). The company expended $44 million for the purchases of property, plant and equipment and had proceeds from the sale of property, principally abandoned real estate, of $16 million. Investing activities of the company’s discontinued operations provided $66 million of cash in 2005, primarily from the sale of its point of care and rapid diagnostics business in September 2005 and the sale of a building of a previously divested business in August 2005.

The company’s financing activities provided $391 million of cash during 2005, principally from the issuance of $250 million senior notes due in 2015 and a net increase in short-term borrowings of $119 million. The company received net proceeds of $27 million from the exercise of employee stock options during 2005.

The company repaid in full $570 million of borrowings under its bridge loan with cash and proceeds of new debt issuances described below. In May 2005, the company issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of 5% senior notes (the Notes) due 2015, with an effective interest rate of 5.27% after including the impact of an interest rate swap arrangement. Under the Notes’ Indenture, the company is subject to certain affirmative and negative covenants.

 
Also in May 2005, the company entered into an arrangement that provides the company an uncommitted line of credit of up to $250 million through a series of short-term money market loans funded on an ongoing basis in the secondary market. Such money market loans have maturity periods of overnight to 364 days and bear varying rates of interest based on the maturity date and market rate at the time of issuance. In May 2005, the company borrowed $250 million through three short-term loans under the money market arrangement with maturities of one week to three months. As of December 31, 2005, the company had repaid the borrowings under this arrangement.

In June 2005, the company entered into a five-year revolving credit facility with a bank group that provided up to 175 million euros. The facility carried interest at a Euribor rate plus 35 basis points. As of December 31, 2005, the company had outstanding borrowings under this facility of 105 million euros ($124 million) in two tranches with maturities in January 2006 and with a weighted average interest rate of 2.47%. The facility was terminated in 2006.

2004

Cash provided by operating activities was $265 million during 2004, including $250 million provided by continuing operations and $15 million provided by discontinued operations. Payments for restructuring actions of the company’s continuing operations, principally severance, lease costs and other expenses of real estate consolidation, used cash of $26 million in 2004. Accounts receivable increased $34 million due primarily to higher sales of mass spectrometry and informatics product offerings. Inventories increased $21 million, due in part to increased production of mass spectrometry and spectroscopy instruments in response to higher demand for these products. Cash provided by discontinued operations of $15 million principally represents the positive cash flow of Spectra-Physics, offset in part by the payment of retained liabilities from businesses sold prior to 2003, including settlement of litigation and lease payments on abandoned facilities.

During 2004, the primary investing activities of the company’s continuing operations, excluding available-for-sale investment activities, included acquisitions for $143 million, net of cash acquired (Note 2) and the expenditure of $44 million for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, net of dispositions. Investing activities of discontinued operations provided $172 million of cash in 2004. In July 2004, the company sold Spectra-Physics to Newport Corporation for $300 million, including $200 million of initial cash proceeds. As a result of Newport assuming non-U.S. debt of Spectra-Physics that had earlier been expected to be retained by the company, and as a result of the post-closing adjustment process, the company refunded $25 million to Newport (Note 16).

The company’s financing activities used $183 million of cash during 2004, including $184 million used by continuing operations. During 2004, the company expended $232 million to repurchase 8.4 million shares of the company’s common stock. The company received net proceeds of $58 million from the exercise of employee stock options during 2004.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The company did not use special purpose entities or other off-balance-sheet financing arrangements in 2004 - 2006 except for letters of credit, bank guarantees, surety bonds and other guarantees disclosed in the table below. Of the amounts disclosed in the table below for letters of credit, bank guarantees, surety bonds and other guarantees, $13.7 million relates to guarantees of the performance of third parties, principally in connection with businesses that were sold. The balance relates to guarantees of the company’s own performance, primarily in the ordinary course of business.



 
Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

The table below summarizes, by period due or expiration of commitment, the company’s contractual obligations and other commercial commitments as of December 31, 2006.
 
     
 Payments Due by Period or Expiration of Commitment
 
       
2007
 
 2008 and
2009
 
 2010 and
2011
 
2012 and
Thereafter
 
 Total
 
     
 (In thousands)
 
                                   
 
     Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments:
                               
 
Debt principal, including short term debt (a)
 
$
478,912
 
$
132,861
 
$
591
 
$
2,036,610
 
$
2,648,974
 
 
     Interest (b)
   
108,407
   
199,954
   
191,590
   
732,543
   
1,232,494
 
 
     Capital lease obligations
   
4,386
   
5,944
   
2,743
   
1,956
   
15,029
 
 
     Operating lease obligations
   
92,111
   
134,308
   
75,574
   
85,089
   
387,082
 
 
 Unconditional purchase obligations (c)
   
110,773
   
7,103
   
984
   
111
   
118,971
 
 
 Letters of credit and bank guarantees
   
70,014
   
6,303
   
151
   
160
   
76,628
 
 
Surety bonds and other guarantees
   
28,832
   
   
   
8,358
   
37,190
 
 
     Other (d)
   
15,350
   
   
   
   
15,350
 
                                   
     
$
908,785
 
$
486,473
 
$
271,633
 
$
2,864,827
 
$
4,531,718
 
 
 
(a)
Amounts represent the expected cash payments for debt and do not include any deferred issuance costs.
 
(b)
For the purpose of this calculation, amounts assume interest rates on floating rate obligations remain unchanged from levels at December 31, 2006, throughout the life of the obligation.
 
(c)
Unconditional purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Purchase obligations exclude agreements that are cancelable at any time without penalty.
 
(d)
Obligation represents funding commitments pursuant to investments held by the company.
 
The company holds an investment in a joint venture whereby the current party has a right to require the company to purchase its interest beginning in 2008. The purchase price is based on a multiple of pretax earnings.

The company has no material commitments for purchases of property, plant and equipment but expects that for 2007, such expenditures for its existing business will approximate $240 to $260 million.

 
In disposing of assets or businesses, the company often provides representations, warranties and/or indemnities to cover various risks including, for example, unknown damage to the assets, environmental risks involved in the sale of real estate, liability to investigate and remediate environmental contamination at waste facilities, and unidentified tax liabilities and legal fees related to periods prior to the disposition. The company does not have the ability to estimate the potential liability from such indemnities because they relate to unknown conditions. However, the company has no reason to believe that these uncertainties would have a material adverse effect on its financial position, annual results of operations or cash flows.

The company has recorded liabilities for known indemnifications included as part of environmental liabilities. See Item 1. Business-Environmental Matters for a discussion of these liabilities.

Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates and equity prices, which could affect its future results of operations and financial condition. The company manages its exposure to these risks through its regular operating and financing activities. Additionally, the company uses short-term forward contracts to manage certain exposures to currencies. The company enters into forward currency-exchange contracts to hedge firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in currencies other than its subsidiaries’ local currencies. The company does not engage in extensive currency hedging activities; however, the purpose of the company’s currency hedging activities is to protect the company’s local currency cash flows related to these commitments from fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The company’s forward currency-exchange contracts principally hedge transactions denominated in euros, U.S. dollars, British pounds sterling, Canadian dollars and Swiss francs. Income and losses arising from forward contracts are recognized as offsets to losses and income resulting from the underlying exposure being hedged. The company does not enter into speculative currency agreements.

Interest Rates

Certain of the company’s short-term available-for-sale investments, long-term notes receivable and long-term obligations are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Interest rate changes would result in a change in the fair value of these financial instruments due to the difference between the market interest rate and the rate at the date of purchase or issuance of the financial instrument. A 10% decrease in year-end 2006 and 2005 market interest rates would result in a net negative impact to the company of $84 million and $9 million, respectively, on the net fair value of its interest-sensitive financial instruments.

In addition, interest rate changes would result in a change in the company’s interest expense due to variable-rate debt instruments. A 100-basis-point increase in 90-day LIBOR at December 31, 2006 and 2005, would increase the company’s annual pre-tax interest expense by $9 million and $1 million, respectively.

Currency Exchange Rates

The company views its investment in international subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the company’s reporting currency as permanent. The company’s investment in international subsidiaries is sensitive to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The functional currencies of the company’s international subsidiaries are principally denominated in euros, British pounds sterling and Japanese yen. The effect of a change in currency exchange rates on the company’s net investment in international subsidiaries is reflected in the “accumulated other comprehensive items” component of shareholders’ equity. A 10% depreciation in year-end 2006 and 2005 functional currencies, relative to the U.S. dollar, would result in a reduction of shareholders’ equity of $324 million and $66 million, respectively.


 
The fair value of forward currency-exchange contracts is sensitive to changes in currency exchange rates. The fair value of forward currency-exchange contracts is the estimated amount that the company would pay or receive upon termination of the contract, taking into account the change in currency exchange rates. A 10% appreciation in year-end 2006 and 2005 currency exchange rates related to the company’s contracts would result in an increase in the unrealized loss on forward currency-exchange contracts of $7 million and $1 million, respectively. The unrealized gains or losses on forward currency-exchange contracts resulting from changes in currency exchange rates are expected to approximately offset losses or gains on the exposures being hedged.

Certain of the company’s cash and cash equivalents are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the depositor and are sensitive to changes in currency exchange rates. A 10% depreciation in the related year-end 2006 and 2005 currency exchange rates applied to such cash balances would result in a negative impact of $5 million and $3 million, respectively, on the company’s net income.

Equity Prices

The company’s available-for-sale investment portfolio includes equity securities that are sensitive to fluctuations in price. In addition, the company’s convertible obligations are sensitive to fluctuations in the price of the company’s common stock. Changes in equity prices would result in changes in the fair value of the company’s available-for-sale investments and convertible obligations due to the difference between the current market price and the market price at the date of purchase or issuance of the financial instrument. The company assumed Fisher’s convertible debt at the date of the merger. A 10% increase in year-end 2006 and 2005 market equity prices would reduce the fair value of the company’s convertible obligations by $128 million and $1 million, respectively.

Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

This data is submitted as a separate section to this report. See Item 15 “Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.”

Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.

Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures

Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The company’s management, with the participation of the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of December 31, 2006. Based on this evaluation, the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2006, the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, reported and accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The company’s management, including the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company. Internal control over financial reporting is a

 
process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The company’s management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 based on criteria established in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, the company’s management concluded that, as of December 31, 2006, the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

The company’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has audited the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, as stated in their report that appears on pages F-2 and F-3 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the company’s internal control over financial reporting. The company acquired Fisher on November 9, 2006 and has evaluated Fisher’s internal control over financial reporting as part of its overall assessment of internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2006.

Item 9B.
Other Information

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10.
 Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

The information with respect to directors required by this Item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of business of the fiscal year (2007 Definitive Proxy Statement) and is incorporated in this report by reference.

The information with respect to executive officers required by this Item is included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

The information with respect to Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance required by this Item will be contained in our 2007 Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

The information with respect to audit committee financial expert and identification of the audit committee of the Board of Directors required by this Item will be contained in our 2007 Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this report by reference. Copies of the audit committee charter, as well as the charters for the compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee, are available on our website at www.thermofisher.com. Paper copies of these documents may be obtained free of charge by writing to the company care of its Investor Relations Department at our principal executive office located at 81 Wyman Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451.

The company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. This code of ethics is incorporated in our code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees. A copy of our code of business conduct and ethics is available on our website at www.thermofisher.com. We intend to satisfy the SEC’s disclosure requirements regarding amendments to, or waivers of, the code of business conduct and ethics by posting such information on our website. A paper copy of our code of business conduct and ethics may be obtained free of charge by writing to the company care of its Investor Relations Department at our principal executive office.

 
In addition, the Board of Directors has adopted corporate governance guidelines of the company. A copy of the company’s corporate governance guidelines are available on the company’s website at www.thermofisher.com. Paper copies of the corporate governance guidelines may be obtained free of charge by writing to the company care of its Investor Relations Department at our principal executive office.

Item 11.   Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item will be contained in our 2007 Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

Item 12.
 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by this Item will be contained in our 2007 Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

Item 13.
 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

The information required by this Item will be contained in our 2007 Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

 
Item 14.
 Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this Item will be contained in our 2007 Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

PART IV

Item 15.
 Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this report:

 
(1)
 Consolidated Financial Statements (see Index on page F-1 of this report):

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statement of Income
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Shareholders’ Equity
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
(2)
 Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule (see Index on page F-1 of this report):

Schedule II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or not required, or because the required information is included either in the consolidated financial statements or in the notes thereto.

(b)
Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index on page 57.


 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 1, 2007
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC.
   
 
  By: