Beckman Coulter Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Results; Earnings Outlook Achieved on Strong Fu...(2008 and $0.12 in 2007. Non-GAA...)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

"GAAP" refers to financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

To supplement the condensed consolidated financial statements and discussion presented on a GAAP basis, this press release includes non-GAAP financial measures with respect to the quarters and years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and with respect to Outlook for 2009. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures because it believes the appropriate analysis of our profitability cannot be effectively considered while incorporating the effect of unusual items and charges that have not been experienced consistently in prior periods. Also, management believes these non-GAAP measures facilitate our comparison of our historical results to our competitors. The company reported the following non-GAAP financial measures: "adjusted operating income," "adjusted operating margin," "adjusted net earnings" and related "adjusted diluted earnings per share," "adjusted tax rate," "free cash flow," "constant currency growth," "adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization" ("adjusted EBITDA") and "adjusted pretax profit growth." The company also provided its outlook for 2009 for "adjusted operating margin," "adjusted non-operating expense," "adjusted tax rate," and "adjusted earnings per diluted share." These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP.

Adjusted operating income excludes the impact of charges or write-offs associated with acquisitions, environmental remediation, restructuring, or relocations in connection with our supply chain improvement initiatives and other operating income and expense items that we do not expect to be recurring. Some of the items excluded may be beyond the control of management and are less predictable than our core performance. A
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