Steris Expands Range of Products for Infection Control

STERIS Corporation have announced that it has acquired Albert Browne Limited (Browne), a privately-held manufacturer of chemical indicators based in the United Kingdom (U.K.).

This acquisition fits STERIS's strategic goal of expanding the Company's offering of consumable products used with its broad line of capital equipment for infection control and decontamination. Chemical indicators are single-use consumables that support a healthcare facility's quality assurance program by confirming the conditions required for sterilization have been achieved within a sterilizer.

Albert Browne Limited was the first company to create a chemical indicator for the sterilization of medical instruments in the 1930s, and has maintained a leading position in the U.K. market through continuous enhancement of their products. Today, Browne sells a complete line of chemical indicators to healthcare facilities in over 70 countries, supported by strong technical and development capabilities, 73 dedicated employees, and a manufacturing facility located in Leicester, England.

STERIS acquired all of the outstanding shares of Browne for 28.9 million pounds sterling (approximately U.S. $51.6 million), net of 3.2 million pounds in cash acquired at the close of the transaction. The transaction was financed entirely with the Company's existing cash. For the year ending December 31, 2003, Browne's revenues were 8.6 million pounds.