Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Announces Commencement of Exchange Offer of Its 6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2014 for Registered Notes HERCULES, Calif., May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. today announced that it has commenced a registered exchange offer to exchange up to $200 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Exchange Notes") for any and all of its outstanding 6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 which were issued in a private placement (the "Private Notes"). The sole purpose of the exchange offer is to fulfill the obligations of Bio-Rad with respect to the registration of the Private Notes. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into by Bio-Rad in connection with the sale of the Private Notes, Bio-Rad agreed to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement relating to the exchange offer pursuant to which the Exchange Notes, containing substantially identical terms to the Private Notes, would be offered in exchange for Private Notes that are tendered by the holders of those notes. Any Private Notes not tendered for exchange in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under the registration rights agreement except in limited circumstances. The terms of the exchange offer are contained in the exchange offer prospectus. The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 31, 2005, unless extended. Private Notes tendered pursuant to the exchange offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date by following the procedures set forth in the exchange offer prospectus. Requests for assistance or for copies of the exchange offer prospectus should be directed to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the exchange agent, at 213-614-2588. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. The exchange offer will be made only by means of a written prospectus. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (http://www.bio-rad.com/) is a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research products and clinical diagnostics. It is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 70,000 research and industry customers worldwide through a network of more than 30 wholly owned subsidiary offices. DATASOURCE: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. CONTACT: Christine Tsingos, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or Ron Hutton, Treasurer, both of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., +1-510-724-7000, or Web site: http://www.bio-rad.com/

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