Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL) Reports 18.5% Gain in Q3 2008 Diluted EPS and Reaffirms Full Year 2008 Diluted EPS Forecast. Q3 2008 Sales Increase 7.4%. Buyback Authorization Increased by 10 Milli...( ST. LOUIS Oct. 21 /- HIGHLIGH...)

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

HIGHLIGHTS:

2008 Results (all percentage comparisons are to comparable periods in 2007):

-- Q3 2008 Sales Driven By Consistent Research Sales Gain: Q3 2008 sales

increased 7.4% to $540.6 million. Currency added 3.1% to organic growth

of 4.3%. Q3 organic sales growth of 7.0% for the Company's

Research-based sales units was in-line with the 6.9% gain for the first

six months of 2008. Q3 2008 currency adjusted sales for SAFC decreased

by 2.0% in response to changing economic conditions, largely in the

pharmaceutical sector. Quarterly comparisons and a reconciliation of

reported to adjusted sales growth are on page 10.

-- Operating And Pretax Margins Continued Strong; Pretax Income Gain

Exceeds Sales Growth: Q3 2008 operating and pretax income margins were

23.3% and 22.7%, respectively, an improvement over both first half 2008

and Q3 2007 levels. Pretax income increased 14.9% in Q3 2008.

-- Double-Digit EPS Growth: Q3 2008 diluted EPS increased 18.5% to $.64,

the best quarterly gain in 2008. Favorable currency rates contributed

$.07 of the increase, with the remaining increase of $.03 or 5.6%

coming from operations, slightly exceeding the quarterly organic sales

growth rate. A reconciliation of currency adjusted proforma to

reported diluted EPS for the quarter is on page 11.

-- Significant Increase In Cash Flow From Operations: Cash flow from

operations for the first nine months of 2008 improved by 11.9% to

$299.8 million.

Outlook:

-- Continued Steady Internal Sales Growth: Organic sales growth for full

year 2008 is expected to be approximately 6%, consistent with

year-to-date results. A currency adjusted Research sales gain of

approximately 7% will be partially offset
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