BOI Bank Irel13.375

RNS Number:1872W
Biotrace International PLC
21 May 2002


"The issuer advises that the following replaces the Acquisition announcement
released today at 07:00 under RNS Number 1769W.

The date at the start of the announcement should have read May 2002 and not May
2001 as previously stated.

In the fourth paragraph the figure of "$xxx" should have read "$3,000" and not 
as previously stated.

All other details remain unchanged. The full amended text appears below.

For Immediate Release:                                    21 May 2002


                           BIOTRACE INTERNATIONAL PLC


  Strategic Acquisition of US Healthcare Distributor to Strengthen Biotrace's
                            Position in the Americas


Biotrace International Plc ('Biotrace' or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer
and distributor of industrial and medical microbiology products, announces that
it has acquired the net assets of US distributor, Toucan Technologies Inc. 
('Toucan').



Based in Cincinnati, USA, Toucan is the North American distributor of Ruskinn
Technology Ltd ('Ruskinn'), a leading manufacturer of anaerobic workstations and
hypoxia cabinets for medical microbiology and research, acquired by Biotrace in
November 2001.



The acquisition of Toucan is in line with the Biotrace's strategy of
establishing direct sales channels for many of its products in North America and
Europe, supported in some countries by well-established distribution partners
such as Neogen. As Ruskinn's exclusive distributor in North America, Toucan has
developed the market for hypoxia cabinets for the medical research market and
has grown the sales of anaerobic cabinets in the more established medical
microbiology market. North America is Ruskinn's most important market and the
experience of Toucan in the healthcare sector will enhance the Company's
prospects of selling additional products to customers in this market.



Toucan had sales of $456,000 (£312,000) in the year ending 31 December 2001 and
did not sell any other product.  Biotrace is acquiring net assets of $3,000
(£2,000) together with Toucan's forward order book, which amounts to $200,000
(£137,000) satisfied by a single payment of $203,000 (£139,000). Toucan's
founder, Mr Chadwick Way, who previously worked with Tekmar Corporation, will
become Vice President of Healthcare Sales for Biotrace Inc. and will receive a
warrant to subscribe for 50,000 Biotrace ordinary shares of 10p, at 125.5p being
the closing price on 17 May 2002.   The warrant may be exercised between three
and five years from the date of acquisition.


Ian Johnson, Chief Executive of Biotrace, commented:

"Ruskinn and Toucan have established an excellent working relationship over many
years which has resulted in Ruskinn products achieving a significant share of
the US market.  I look forward to building on Toucan's achievements in the US
and to establishing sales of other Biotrace product lines in the sector where
significant opportunities, exist such as hospital hygiene and surgical
instrument sterilisation assurance."


                                    - ENDS -

For further information, please contact:

Biotrace International                             Tel : +44 (0) 1656 641 400
Ian Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
Peter Morgan, Finance Director

Buchanan Communications                            Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Nicola How / Louise Bolton


Notes to editors:


Biotrace International Plc is a leading manufacturer and supplier of rapid
microbiology instrumentation and test reagents to food, industrial, healthcare
and defence markets.  Biotrace is the acknowledged leader in rapid hygiene
testing and the continuous real-time detection of airborne biological weapons.


Many of the world's leading food manufacturers and catering companies, including
19 out of the top 20 world food groups now rely on Biotrace as an essential part
of their quality procedures. Industrial customers include many of the world's
largest water treatment chemical multi-nationals.  Biotrace also supplies highly
specialised workstations to hospitals, public health laboratories and medical
research institutes for the examination of hazardous micro-organisms and
diseases.   A significant part of the Company's business is the manufacture and
supply of equipment and reagents to the UK MoD for the detection of biological
weapons.


Formed in 1988 and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1993, Biotrace
intends to continue to broaden its business base through organic growth and
acquisition of products and technologies to become a 'one stop shop' for its
large and growing customer base.


Ruskinn Technology Ltd:

Privately held and formed in 1993, Ruskinn manufactures and markets specialised
gas controlled incubation systems for routine microbiology and medical research.
  Since 1993 Ruskinn has rapidly become the product of choice by microbiologists
working with anaerobic and microaerophilic organisms in hospitals and public
health institutions.


Ruskinn has installations in more than 30 countries and is particularly strong
in Asia where the products are brand leaders in countries such as Japan and
Taiwan.


In more recent months Ruskinn have developed a unique range of products, which
assist with medical research into the causes of cancer and cardiovascular
disease.  Already Ruskinn have several prestigious installations in the USA &
UK.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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