SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 10-K (X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010 ( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ________to __________ Commission File Number: 000-17272 TECHNE CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Minnesota 41-1427402 (State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 614 McKinley Place N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55413-2610 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number: (612) 379-8854 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.01 par value Name of each exchange on which registered: The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Global Select Market) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes (X) No ( ) Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ( ) No (X) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes (X) No ( ) Indicate by check mark whether the registrants has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ( ) No ( ) Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. (X) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer (X) Accelerated filer ( ) Non-accelerated filer ( ) Small reporting company ( ) Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ( ) No (X) The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the closing sale price on December 31, 2009 as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market ($68.56 per share) was approximately $1.9 billion. Shares of Common Stock held by each officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded. Shares of $0.01 par value Common Stock outstanding at August 26, 2010: 37,043,775. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the Company's Proxy Statement for its 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PART I Item 1. Business 1 Item 1A. Risk Factors 9 Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 11 Item 2. Properties 11 Item 3. Legal Proceedings 11 Item 4. (Removed and Reserved) 11 PART II Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 12 Item 6. Selected Financial Data 14 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 15 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 23 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 25 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 43 Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 43 Item 9B. Other Information 43 PART III Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 44 Item 11. Executive Compensation 44 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters 44 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 45 Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 45 PART IV Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 45 SIGNATURES 46 i PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS OVERVIEW TECHNE Corporation was incorporated on July 17, 1981 in the state of Minnesota. TECHNE Corporation and Subsidiaries (the Company) are engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of biotechnology products and hematology calibrators and controls. These activities are conducted domestically through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (R&D Systems) and BiosPacific, Inc. (BiosPacific). The Company distributes biotechnology products in Europe through its wholly-owned U.K. subsidiary, R&D Systems Europe Ltd. (R&D Europe). R&D Europe has a sales subsidiary, R&D Systems GmbH, in Germany and a sales office in France. The Company distributes biotechnology products in China through its wholly-owned subsidiary, R&D Systems China, Co. Ltd. (R&D China). The Company has three reportable operating segments based on the nature of products and geographic location: biotechnology, R&D Europe and hematology. The biotechnology segment consists of R&D Systems' Biotechnology Division, BiosPacific and R&D China, which develop, manufacture and sell biotechnology research and diagnostic products world-wide. R&D Europe distributes Biotechnology Division products throughout Europe. The hematology segment develops and manufactures hematology controls and calibrators for sale world- wide. THE MARKET The Company manufactures and sells products for the biotechnology research and clinical diagnostics market (cytokines, assays and related products) and the clinical diagnostics market (hematology controls and calibrators). In fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, net sales from the Company's biotechnology segment were 66%, 66% and 64%, respectively, of consolidated net sales. Net sales from the Company's R&D Europe segment were 27%, 27% and 30%, respectively, of consolidated net sales for same periods. The Company's hematology segment net sales were 7%, 7% and 6% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Financial information relating to the Company's operating segments is incorporated herein by reference to Note L to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Biotechnology and R&D Europe segments The Company, through its biotechnology and R&D Europe segments, is one of the world's leading suppliers of cytokines and cytokine-related reagents to the biotechnology research community. These valuable proteins are produced in minute amounts by different types of cells and can be isolated from these cells or synthesized through recombinant DNA technology. Currently nearly all of the Company's cytokines are produced by recombinant DNA technology. The growing interest by academic and commercial researchers in cytokines is largely due to the profound effect that a tiny amount of a cytokine can have on cells and tissues of the body. Cytokines are intercellular messengers. They act as signals by interacting with specific receptors on the affected cells and trigger events that can lead to significant changes in a cell, tissue or organism. For example, cytokines can signal a cell to acquire the features necessary for it to take on a more specialized task. Another example of cytokine action is the key role played in stimulating cells surrounding a wound to grow and divide, to attract migratory cells to the injury site and mediate the healing process. The Company also has enzymes and intracellular cell signaling reagents in its product portfolio. Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate a variety of chemical reactions in cells. Most enzymes, including proteases, kinases and phosphatases, are proteins that modify the structure and function of other proteins. Both enzymes and cytokines have the potential to serve as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's, arthritis, autoimmunity, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, AIDS and SARS. 1 The Company markets cytokine immunoassay kits under the tradename Quantikine. These kits are used by researchers to quantify the level of a specific cytokine in biological fluids, such as serum, plasma, or urine. Cytokine quantification is an integral component of basic research as well as in the pharmaceutical discovery and development process. The Company currently manufactures and sells nearly 15,000 biotechnology products. Biotechnology Products Cytokines and Enzymes. Cytokines, extracted from natural sources or produced using recombinant DNA technology, are manufactured to the highest possible purity. Enzymes and related factors including enzyme substrates and inhibitors are highly purified and characterized to ensure the highest biological activity. Antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system of an animal that specifically recognize and bind to target molecules. The Company's polyclonal antibodies are produced in animals (primarily goats and sheep) and purified from the animals' blood. Monoclonal antibodies are made by immortalized cell lines derived from the antibody producing cells of a rodent. Monoclonal antibodies are secreted from these cell lines during cell culture production and purified from the cell culture medium. Assay Kits. This product line includes human and animal Quantikine kits which allow research scientists to quantify the amount of a specific analyte (cytokine, adhesion molecule, enzyme, etc.) in a sample of serum or other biological fluids. Clinical Diagnostic Kits. The Company has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing clearance for its erythropoietin (EPO), transferrin receptor (TfR) and Beta2-microglobulin immunoassays for use as in vitro diagnostic kits. Flow Cytometry Products. This product line includes fluorochrome labeled antibodies and Fluorokine kits, which are used to determine specific immune-phenotypic properties of cells of the immune system by flow cytometric means. Intracellular Cell Signaling Products. This diverse product line provides reagents to elucidate cell signaling transduction pathways within cells. Products include antibodies, phospho-specific antibodies, antibody protein arrays, active caspases, kinases, and phosphatases, and ELISA assays to quantitate and measure the activity of apoptotic and signaling molecules. Hematology segment Hematology controls and calibrators are products composed of the various cellular components of blood which have been stabilized. Proper diagnosis of many illnesses requires a thorough and accurate analysis of a patient's blood cells, which is usually done with automated or semi-automated hematology instruments. Controls and calibrators ensure that these instruments are performing accurately and reliably. Blood is composed of plasma, the fluid portion of blood, and blood cells, which are suspended in the plasma. There are three basic types of blood cells: red cells, white cells and platelets. Hemoglobin in red cells transports oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. White cells are part of the body's immune system. Platelets serve as a "plug" to stem blood flow at the site of an injury by initiating a complex series of biochemical reactions that lead to the formation of a clot. 2 These fundamental blood components (red cells, white cells and platelets) differ widely in size and concentration. As noted above, hematology controls are used in automated and semi-automated cell counting analyzers to make sure these instruments are counting blood cells in patient samples accurately. One of the most frequently performed laboratory tests on a blood sample is a complete blood count (CBC). Doctors use this test in disease screening and diagnosis. More than one billion of these tests are done world-wide every year, the great majority with cell counting instruments. In most laboratories, the CBC consists of the white cell count, the red cell count, the hemoglobin reading, and the hematocrit reading (the percent of red cells in a volume of whole blood after it has been centrifuged). Also included in a CBC test is the differential, which numbers and classifies the different types of white cells. These and other characteristics or "parameters" of a blood sample can be measured by automated or semi-automated cell counters. The number of parameters measurable in a blood control product depends on the type and sophistication of the instrument for which the control is designed. Ordinarily, a hematology control is used once to several times a day to make sure the instrument is reading accurately. In addition, most instruments need to be calibrated periodically. Hematology calibrators are similar to controls, but undergo additional testing to ensure that the calibration values assigned are within tight specifications and can be used to calibrate the instrument. The Company offers a wide range of hematology controls and calibrators for both impedance and laser type cell counters. The Company believes its products have improved stability and versatility and a longer shelf life than most of those of its competitors. Hematology control products are also supplied for use as proficiency testing materials by laboratory certifying authorities of a number of states and countries. Hematology Products Whole Blood CBC Controls/Calibrators. The Company currently produces controls and calibrators for the following major brands of analyzers: Abbott Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, HORIBA Medical and Sysmex. Linearity and Reportable Range Controls. These products provide a means of assessing the linearity of hematology analyzers for white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and reticulocytes (immature red blood cells). Because hematology analyzers are single-point calibrated, these products allow users to determine and validate the reportable range of an instrument. Whole Blood Reticulocyte Controls. These controls are designed for manual and automated counting of reticulocytes (immature red blood cells). Whole Blood Flow Cytometry Controls. These products are controls for clinical flow cytometry instruments. These instruments are used to identify and quantify white blood cells by their immuno-phenotypic properties. Whole Blood Glucose/Hemoglobin Control. This product is designed to monitor instruments which measure glucose and hemoglobin in whole blood. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Control. This product is designed to monitor erythrocyte (red blood cell) sedimentation rate tests. Multi-Purpose Platelet Reference Controls. These products, Platelet-Trol II and Platelet-Trol Extended, are designed for use by automated and semi- automated analyzers which monitor platelet levels. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreements represent the largest market for hematology controls and calibrators made by the Company. In fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, OEM agreements accounted for $8.0 million, $7.6 million and $7.0 million, respectively, or 3% of total consolidated net sales in each fiscal year. 3 PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT The Company is engaged in ongoing research and development in all of its major product lines: controls and calibrators (hematology) and cytokines, antibodies, assays and related products (biotechnology). The Company believes that its future success depends, to a large extent, on its ability to keep pace with changing technologies and markets. At the same time, the Company continues to examine its production processes to ensure high quality and maximum efficiency. In fiscal 2010, the Company introduced over 1,400 new biotechnology products. The Company is planning to release new cytokines, antibodies and cytokine assay kits in the coming year. All of these products will be for research purposes only and therefore do not require FDA clearance. The Company also developed several new hematology control products in fiscal 2010 and is continuously working on product improvements and enhancements. However, there is no assurance that any of the products in the research and development phase can be successfully completed or, if completed, can be successfully introduced into the marketplace. Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Research expense (in thousands): Biotechnology expenses $ 24,331 $ 22,792 $ 21,632 Hematology expenses 790 772 762 -------- -------- -------- $ 25,121 $ 23,564 $ 22,394 ======== ======== ======== Percent of net sales 9.3% 8.9% 8.7% INVESTMENTS Since fiscal 1998, the Company has invested in the preferred stock of ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCX). CCX is a technology and drug development company working in the area of chemokines. Chemokines are cytokines which regulate the trafficking patterns of leukocytes, the effector cells of the human immune system. In conjunction with the investment and joint research efforts, the Company obtained exclusive worldwide research and diagnostic marketing rights to chemokine proteins, antibodies and receptors discovered or developed by CCX. The Company holds a 16.8% ownership percentage in CCX. The Company has evaluated the cost versus equity method of accounting for its investment in CCX and determined that it does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of CCX and therefore, accounts for its investment on a cost basis. The Company's net investment in CCX at both June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $14.3 million. In fiscal 2004, the Company purchased a 10% equity interest in Hemerus Medical, LLC (Hemerus) for $3.0 million. In fiscal years 2006 through 2008, the Company invested an additional $1.8 million in Hemerus, increasing its ownership percentage to 19%. In fiscal 2010, as a result of Hemerus issuing additional ownership units, the Company's ownership percentage decreased to 13.8% as of June 30, 2010. Hemerus was formed in March 2001 and has acquired and is developing technology for the separation of leukocytes from red blood cells and to extend the shelf life of the isolated blood products. Hemerus owns two patents, has several patent applications pending and has received FDA clearance to market its products in the U.S. In parallel with this investment, R&D Systems entered into a Joint Research Agreement with Hemerus. The research involves joint projects to explore the use of Hemerus' filter technology to applications within R&D Systems' Hematology and Biotechnology Divisions. Such applications, if any, may have commercial potential in other laboratory environments. The Company accounts for its investment in Hemerus under the equity method of accounting as Hemerus is a limited liability company. The Company's net investment in Hemerus was $1.2 million and $2.2 million at June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. 4 In fiscal 2007, the Company invested $7.2 million for an 18% equity interest in Nephromics LLC (Nephromics). Nephromics has licensed technology related to the diagnosis of preeclampsia and has sublicensed the technology to several major diagnostic companies for the development of diagnostic assays. In fiscal 2008, Nephromics issued additional membership units which reduced the Company's ownership percentage to 16.8%. In fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010, the Company received distributions of $1.3 million and $50,000, respectively from Nephromics. The Company accounts for its investment in Nephromics under the equity method of accounting as Nephromics is a limited liability company. Its net investment in Nephromics was $4.0 million and $4.5 million at June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. In fiscal 2008, the Company invested $1.4 million in ACTGen, Inc. (ACTGen), a development stage biotechnology company located in Japan. ACTGen has intellectual property related to the identification and expression of secreted molecules. The technology covers techniques to identify cellular molecules which are destined to be secreted into tissue fluids or shuttled to the cell membrane. Such molecules represent an ideal target as disease biomarkers. The Company holds a 13.6% ownership percentage in ACTGen as of June 30, 2010. The Company's net investment in ACTGen was $1.1 million and $1.2 million at June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. GOVERNMENT REGULATION All manufacturers of hematology controls and calibrators are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended. All of the Company's hematology control products are classified as "In Vitro Diagnostic Products" by the FDA. The entire hematology control manufacturing process, from receipt of raw materials to the monitoring of control products through their expiration date, is strictly regulated and documented. FDA inspectors make periodic site inspections of the Company's hematology control operations and facilities. Hematology control manufacturing must comply with Quality System Regulations (QSR) as set forth in the FDA's regulations governing medical devices. Three of the Company's immunoassay kits, EPO, TfR and Beta2-microglobulin, have FDA clearance to be sold for clinical diagnostic use. The Company must comply with QSR for the manufacture of these kits. Biotechnology products manufactured in the United States and sold for use in the research market do not require FDA clearance. Some of the Company's research groups use small amounts of radioactive materials in the form of radioisotopes in their product development activities. Thus, the Company is subject to regulation and inspection by the Minnesota Department of Health and has been granted a license through August 2011. The license is renewable annually. The Company has had no difficulties in renewing this license in prior years and has no reason to believe it will not be renewed in the future. If, however, the license was not renewed, it would have minimal effect on the Company's business since there are other technologies the research groups could use to replace the use of radioisotopes. AVAILABILITY OF RAW MATERIALS The primary raw material for the Company's hematology controls is whole blood. Human blood is purchased from commercial blood banks while porcine and bovine blood is purchased from nearby meat processing plants. After raw blood is received, it is separated into its components, processed and stabilized. Although the cost of human blood has increased due to the requirement that it be tested for certain diseases and pathogens, the higher cost of these materials has not had a material adverse effect on the Company's business. The Company does not perform its own pathogen testing as the supplier tests all human blood purchased. R&D Systems' Biotechnology Division develops and manufactures the majority of its cytokines from synthetic genes developed in-house, thus significantly reducing its reliance on outside resources. R&D Systems typically has several outside sources for all critical raw materials necessary for the manufacture of products. 5 PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS R&D Systems owns patent protection for certain hematology controls which extend for various periods depending on the date of the patent application or patent grant. The Company is not substantially dependent on products for which it has obtained patent protection. Revenues for such products are not material to the Company's financial results. R&D Systems may seek patent protection for new or existing products it manufactures. No assurance can be given that any such patent protection will be obtained. No assurance can be given that R&D Systems' products do not infringe upon patents or proprietary rights owned or claimed by others, particularly for genetically engineered products. R&D Systems has not conducted a patent infringement study for each of its products. For more information on patent litigation, see Item 3 "Legal Proceedings" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. R&D Systems and R&D Europe have a number of licensing agreements with patent holders under which they have the non-exclusive right to use patented technology or the non-exclusive right to manufacture and sell certain patented cytokine and cytokine related products to the research market. For fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, total royalties expensed under these licenses were approximately $3.3 million, $3.2 million and $3.0 million, respectively. R&D Systems has obtained federal trademark registration for certain of its hematology controls and biotechnology product groups which extend for various periods depending upon the date of the trademark grant. R&D Systems believes it has common law trademark rights to certain marks in addition to those which it has registered. SEASONALITY OF BUSINESS Products marketed by R&D Systems and, particularly R&D Europe, historically experience a slowing of sales or of the rate of sales growth during the summer months. R&D Systems also usually experiences a slowing of sales during the Thanksgiving to New Year holiday period. The Company believes this slowing is a result of vacation schedules in Europe and Japan and of academic schedules in the United States. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS No single customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenues during fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008. BACKLOG There was no significant backlog of orders for the Company's products as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or as of a comparable date for fiscal 2009. The majority of the Company's biotechnology products are shipped within one day of receipt of the customers' orders. The majority of hematology products are shipped based on a preset, recurring schedule. COMPETITION The worldwide market for cytokines and research diagnostic assay kits is being supplied by a number of biotechnology companies, including GE Healthcare Life Sciences, BD Biosciences, EMD Biosciences, Inc., Life Technologies Corporation, Millipore Corporation, PeproTech, Inc., Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Abcam plc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. R&D Systems believes that it is one of the leading worldwide suppliers of cytokine related products in the research marketplace. R&D Systems believes that the expanding line of its products, their recognized quality, and the growing demand for these rare and versatile proteins, antibodies and assay kits, will allow the Company to remain competitive in the growing biotechnology research and diagnostic market. 6 Competition is intense in the hematology control business. The first control products were developed in response to the rapid advances in electronic instrumentation used in hospital and clinical laboratories for blood cell counting. Historically, most of the instrument manufacturing companies made controls for use in their own instruments. With rapid expansion of the instrument market, however, a need for more versatile controls enabled non- instrument manufacturers to gain a foothold. Today the market is comprised of manufacturers of laboratory reagents, chemicals and coagulation products and independent control manufacturers in addition to instrument manufacturers. The principal hematology control competitors of R&D Systems' retail products are Abbott Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Streck, Inc., Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. and Sysmex Corporation. R&D Systems believes it is the third largest supplier of hematology controls in the marketplace behind Beckman Coulter, Inc. and Streck, Inc. EMPLOYEES Through its subsidiaries, the Company employed 684 full-time and 53 part-time employees as of June 30, 2010, as follows: Full-time Part-time --------- --------- R&D Systems 613 30 R&D Europe 54 20 BiosPacific 6 1 R&D China 11 2 --- -- 684 53 === == Included in R&D Europe employees are eight full-time and four part-time employees at R&D Europe's sales subsidiary in Germany. ENVIRONMENT Compliance with federal, state and local environmental protection laws in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and China had no material effect on the Company in fiscal 2010. GEOGRAPHIC AREA FINANICAL INFORMATION Following is financial information relating to geographic areas (in thousands): Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Net sales United States $148,137 $147,271 $141,443 Europe 78,496 79,381 81,628 Other areas 42,414 37,304 34,349 -------- -------- -------- Total net sales $269,047 $263,956 $257,420 ======== ======== ======== As of June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Long-lived assets United States $ 91,554 $ 93,571 $ 93,612 Europe 6,299 7,214 8,992 Other areas 70 98 112 -------- -------- -------- Total long-lived assets $ 97,923 $100,883 $102,716 ======== ======== ======== 7 Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer/distributor. Long-lived assets are comprised of land, buildings and improvements equipment, and other assets, net of depreciation and amortization. See the description of risks associated with the Company's foreign subsidiaries in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. INVESTOR INFORMATION The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Therefore, the Company files periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Such reports, proxy statements, and other information may be obtained by visiting the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549 or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. Financial and other information about the Company is available on its Web site (http://www.techne-corp.com). The Company makes available on its Web site, copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10- Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the SEC. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The names, ages and positions of each executive officer of the Company are as follows: Name Age Position Officer Since - ----------------- --- ---------------------------------------- ------------- Thomas E. Oland 69 Chairman of the Board, President, 1985 Treasurer, Chief Executive and Director Gregory J. Melsen 58 Vice President of Finance and Chief 2004 Financial Officer Marcel Veronneau 56 Vice President, Hematology Operations 1995 The term of office of each executive officer is annual or until a successor is elected. There are no arrangements or understandings among any of the executive officers and any other person (not an officer or director acting as such) pursuant to which any of the executive officers was selected as an officer of the Company. Thomas E. Oland has been Chairman of the Board, President, Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since December 1985. Mr. Oland also served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company from December 1985 to December 2004. Gregory J. Melsen joined the Company in December 2004 as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to 2004, he held various vice president and chief financial officers positions at several publicly traded companies and was employed by a public accounting firm for 19 years, including nine years as an audit partner. Marcel Veronneau was appointed as Vice President, Hematology Operations for the Company in March 1995. Prior thereto, he served as Director of Operations for R&D Systems' Hematology Division since joining the Company in 1993. 8 ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and elsewhere, that are forward-looking involve risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company's actual results of operations. Certain of these risks and uncertainties which have affected and, in the future, could affect the Company's actual results are discussed below. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made due to new information or future events. Investors are cautioned not to place undue emphasis on these statements. The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluation of the Company's business and any forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect the Company's business, operating results and financial condition. The Company's revenues are significantly dependent on sales to research scientists in the private and public sector, and a decrease in research spending could negatively impact the Company's revenues. The Company's biotechnology products are sold primarily to research scientists at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and at university and government research institutions. Changes in spending on research by such companies and in the funding that such universities and institutions receive from government agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, affects the revenues and earnings of the Company. The Company carries essentially no backlog of orders and changes in the level of orders received and filled daily can cause fluctuations in quarterly revenues and earnings. The Company operates in rapidly changing and intensely competitive industries, and may not be able to keep pace with its competitors. The biotechnology industry is subject to rapid and significant technological change. While the hematology controls industry historically has been less subject to rapid change, it too is evolving and is impacted significantly by changes in the automated testing equipment offered by instrument manufacturers. Competitors of the Company are numerous and include, among others, specialized biotechnology firms, medical laboratory instrument and equipment manufacturers and disposables suppliers, major pharmaceutical companies, universities and other research institutions. There can be no assurance that the Company's competitors will not succeed in developing technologies and products that are more effective than any which have been or are being developed by the Company or that would render the Company's technologies and products obsolete or noncompetitive. The Company is significantly dependent on sales made through foreign subsidiaries, and revenues and earnings could be negatively impacted by changes in exchange rates. Approximately 29% of the Company's sales are made through its foreign subsidiaries, which make their sales in foreign currencies. The Company's revenues and earnings are, therefore, affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Any adverse movement in foreign currency rates could negatively affect the Company's revenues and earnings. The Company's business is subject to governmental regulation, which may have the effect of delaying or impeding the release of certain of its products. Ongoing research and development activities and the production and marketing of certain of the Company's products are subject to regulation by numerous governmental authorities in the United States and other countries. The approval process applicable to clinical diagnostic products of the type that may be developed by the Company may take a year or more. Delays in obtaining approvals could adversely affect the marketing of new products developed by the Company, and negatively affect the Company's revenues. 9 The Company is dependent on maintaining its intellectual property rights, and cannot guarantee that it will not be subject to intellectual property litigation in the future. The Company's success will depend, in part, on its ability to obtain licenses and patents, maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others. The Company has obtained and is negotiating licenses to produce a number of cytokines and related products claimed to be owned by others. Since the Company has not conducted a patent infringement study for each of its products, it is possible that products of the Company may unintentionally infringe patents of third parties or that the Company may have to alter its products or processes, pay licensing fees or cease certain activities because of patent rights of third parties, thereby causing additional unexpected costs and delays which may have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company's success will be dependent on recruiting and retaining highly qualified personnel, the loss of whom could adversely affect its operations. Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and production personnel to perform research and development work and product manufacturing are critical to the Company's success. The Company's anticipated growth and its expected expansion into areas and activities requiring additional expertise will require the addition of new personnel and the development of additional expertise by existing personnel. The failure to attract and retain such personnel could adversely affect the Company's business. The Company may incur losses as a result of its investments in other companies, the success of which is largely out of the Company's control. The Company's expansion strategies, which include internal development of new products, collaborations, investments in joint ventures and companies developing new products related to the Company's business, and the acquisition of companies for new products, technologies and additional customer base, carry risks that objectives will not be achieved and future earnings will be adversely affected. Development stage companies of the type the Company has invested in are dependent on their ability to raise additional funds to continue research and development efforts and on receiving patent protection and/or FDA clearance to market their products. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for certain of these investments and records a percentage of the losses of these companies as losses of the Company. The Company may not have control of the expense levels of such companies and their losses may be greater than those anticipated by the Company. Additionally, if funding were unavailable or inadequate to fund operations of these companies or if patent protection or FDA clearance were not received by them, the Company may determine that its investment in one or more of these unconsolidated companies is "other than temporarily" impaired, and the Company could write off all or a portion of its investment. The Company may be unsuccessful in expanding into China and establishing adequate distribution channels for its products in China. The Company established a subsidiary in China in late fiscal 2007, to provide warehousing, marketing, sales and technical services for the growing Chinese market. The Company's ability to recover its investment is dependent upon its ability to retain current third-party distributors in China and expand its market share in the region. 10 ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS There are no unresolved staff comments as of the date of this report. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES The Company owns the facilities that its headquarters and R&D Systems subsidiary occupy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The R&D Systems main complex includes approximately 500,000 square feet of administrative, research and manufacturing space in several adjoining buildings. The Company owns two additional properties adjacent to its main complex. The Company has renovated the first property and is currently leasing or plans to lease approximately 70% of the 176,000 square foot building as retail and office space and use the remainder as warehouse and storage space. A portion of the second property is currently leased to third parties and the Company plans to continue to lease out the building until the space is needed for its own operations. The Company owns approximately 649 acres of farmland, including buildings, in southeast Minnesota. A portion of the land and buildings are being leased to third parties as cropland and for a dairy operation. The remaining property is used by the Company to house goats and sheep for polyclonal antibody production. Rental income from the above properties was $413,000, $481,000 and $404,000 in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company owns the 17,000 square foot facility that its R&D Europe operations occupy in Abingdon, England. The Company leases the following facilities: Company Location Type Square Feet - ------------- ------------------------------- ---------------- ----------- R&D GmbH Wiesbaden-Nordenstadt, Germany Office space 2,300 BiosPacific Emeryville, California Office space 3,500 R&D China Shanghai, China Office/warehouse 4,500 The Company believes the owned and leased property discussed above, are adequate to meet its occupancy needs in the foreseeable future. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS In a previously disclosed lawsuit filed by Streck, Inc. (Streck), venued in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska (the Nebraska Court), Streck alleged patent infringement involving certain patents issued to Streck relating to the addition of reticulocytes to hematology controls. Streck was seeking a royalty on sales of integrated hematology controls containing reticulocytes. The Company has reason to believe that R&D Systems, and not Streck, first invented the inventions claimed in these patents and several other patents issued to Streck. As a result, the Company requested, and in 2007 the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) declared, an interference to determine priority of invention between a patent application filed by R&D Systems and five Streck patents, including each of the patents involved in the lawsuit. On November 2, 2009, the interference board ordered that judgment for the Company and against Streck be entered, finding that R&D Systems was the first to invent the integrated hematology controls containing reticulocytes. 11 The judgment, once upheld, will constitute cancellation of all claims of the five Streck patents involving the addition of reticulocytes to hematology controls. Such cancellation may moot an earlier jury decision on October 28, 2009, at the conclusion of trial in the Nebraska Court, that the Company did not meet its burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that the Streck patents were invalid. The jury also found that a reasonable license royalty rate was 12.5%, and that R&D Systems did not willfully infringe, resulting in a judgment in favor of Streck in the amount of $92,300. The Company will also be responsible for court related costs (less than $40,000) and its professional fees related to the case. The Company will defend the interference board's decision, will move the Nebraska Court for declaratory judgment of invalidity as a matter of law based on priority, and will appeal any continuing adverse decision of the Nebraska Court. If successful, after cancellation of the Streck patents, the Company may be issued a patent covering integrated hematology controls containing reticulocytes. The Company does not believe the resolution of the above proceedings will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. ITEM 4. (REMOVED AND RESERVED) PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES The Company's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "TECH." The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low sales price per share for the Company as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Fiscal 2010 Price Fiscal 2009 Price ----------------- ----------------- High Low High Low ------ ------ ------ ------ 1st Quarter $65.54 $58.91 $82.92 $67.97 2nd Quarter 69.95 62.12 75.15 57.10 3rd Quarter 69.74 60.00 65.64 45.38 4th Quarter 67.65 57.10 64.41 51.11 As of August 26, 2010, there were over 28,000 beneficial shareholders of the Company's common stock and over 260 shareholders of record. The Company paid quarterly cash dividends totaling $38.4 million and $28.2 million in fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively. Its Board of Directors periodically considers the payment of cash dividends. 12 The following chart compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's common stock with the S&P Midcap 400 Index and the S&P 400 Biotechnology Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on the last trading day before July 1, 2005 in the Company's common stock and in each of the foregoing indices and assumes reinvestment of dividends. COMPARISION OF CUMULATIVE FIVE YEAR TOTAL RETURNS INDEXED RETURNS Year Ending Company/Index June 2006 June 2007 June 2008 June 2009 June 2010 - ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Techne Corp 110.91 124.61 168.57 140.79 128.83 S&P Midcap 400 Index 112.98 133.89 124.07 89.30 111.57 S&P 400 Biotechnology 101.89 106.89 138.54 134.63 150.95 The following table sets forth the repurchases of Company Common Stock for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Maximum Approximate Dollar Value Total Number of of Shares Shares Purchased that May Yet Total Number Average as Part of Be Purchased Of Shares Price Paid Publicly Announced Under the Plans Period Purchased Per Share Plans or Programs or Programs - -------------- ------------ ---------- ------------------ ------------------- 4/1/10-4/30/10 3,900 62.00 3,900 $65.9 million 5/1/10-5/31/10 52,021 60.61 52,021 $62.7 million 6/1/10-6/30/10 204,772 59.19 204,772 $50.6 million In November 2007, the Company authorized a plan for the repurchase and retirement of up to $150 million of its common stock. In April 2009, the Company authorized an additional $60 million for its stock repurchase plan. The plan does not have an expiration date. 13 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Income and Share Data: Net sales $269,047 $263,956 $257,420 $223,482 $202,617 Gross margin(1) 79.8% 79.0% 79.5% 79.1% 77.4% Selling, general and administrative expenses(1) 12.0% 12.6% 14.3% 13.9% 13.6% Research and development expenses(1) 9.3% 8.9% 8.7% 9.0% 9.3% Operating income(1) 58.1% 57.1% 56.1% 55.6% 53.6% Earnings before income taxes(1) 58.1% 58.9% 59.8% 57.7% 54.9% Net earnings(1) 40.8% 39.9% 40.2% 38.1% 36.2% Net earnings $109,776 $105,242 $103,558 $ 85,111 $ 73,351 Diluted earnings per share $ 2.94 $ 2.78 $ 2.64 $ 2.15 $ 1.85 Average common and common equivalent shares - diluted (in thousands) 37,347 37,900 39,247 39,513 39,594 Share closing price: High $ 69.65 $ 81.90 $ 79.73 $ 61.87 $ 60.14 Low $ 57.10 $ 45.64 $ 56.20 $ 45.63 $ 46.40 Balance Sheet Data as of June 30: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term available- for-sale investments $138,811 $202,887 $206,345 $164,774 $108,846 Receivables 34,137 31,153 33,332 30,966 25,078 Inventories 13,737 11,269 9,515 8,757 9,024 Working capital 184,016 239,944 238,194 195,645 131,856 Total assets 518,816 472,005 507,369 454,844 370,512 Long-term debt, less current portion - - - - 12,198 Cash Flow Data: Net cash provided by operating activities $111,260 $111,321 $115,317 $ 90,503 $ 85,589 Capital expenditures 4,644 6,556 16,365 8,076 4,603 Cash dividends paid per common share(2) 1.03 0.75 - - - Financial Ratios: Return on average equity 22.9% 22.3% 22.4% 21.9% 24.1% Return on average assets 22.2% 21.5% 21.5% 20.6% 22.0% Current ratio 11.8 16.5 12.8 12.4 8.3 Price to earnings ratio(3) 20 23 29 27 28 Employee Data as of June 30: Full-time employees 684 687 666 628 577 (1) As a percent of net sales. (2) The Company's Board of Directors periodically considers the payment of cash dividends. (3) Common share price at end of fiscal year (June 30) divided by the diluted earnings per share for the respective fiscal year. 14 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This report contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company's current assumptions and expectations. The principal forward-looking statements in this report include: the Company's expectations regarding product releases, governmental license renewals, future tax rates, capital expenditures, future dividend declarations, adequacy of owned and leased property for future operations, and sufficiency of capital resources to meet the Company's foreseeable future cash and working capital requirements. All such forward-looking statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Although the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements, the Company's actual results could be materially different. The most important factors which could cause the Company's actual results to differ from forward-looking statements are set forth in the Company's description of risk factors in Item 1A to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. OVERVIEW TECHNE Corporation and Subsidiaries (the Company) are engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of biotechnology products and hematology calibrators and controls. These activities are conducted domestically through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (R&D Systems) and BiosPacific, Inc. (BiosPacific). The Company distributes biotechnology products in Europe through its wholly-owned U.K. subsidiary, R&D Systems Europe Ltd. (R&D Europe). R&D Europe has a sales subsidiary, R&D Systems GmbH, in Germany and a sales office in France. The Company distributes biotechnology products in China through its wholly-owned subsidiary, R&D Systems China Co. Ltd. (R&D China). The Company has three reportable operating segments based on the nature of products and geographic location: biotechnology, R&D Europe and hematology. The biotechnology segment consists of R&D Systems' Biotechnology Division, BiosPacific and R&D China, which develop, manufacture and sell biotechnology research and diagnostic products world-wide. R&D Europe distributes Biotechnology Division products throughout Europe. The hematology segment develops and manufactures hematology controls and calibrators for sale world- wide. OVERALL RESULTS Consolidated net sales and consolidated net earnings increased 1.9% and 4.3%, respectively, for fiscal 2010 as compared to fiscal 2009. Consolidated net sales and consolidated net earnings in fiscal 2010 were slightly affected by changes in exchange rates from the prior year used to convert consolidated net sales and consolidated net earnings in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars. The favorable impact in fiscal 2010 on consolidated net sales and consolidated net earnings of the change from the prior year in exchange rates was $888,000 and $68,000, respectively. Consolidated net earnings for fiscal 2010 included a $4.7 million tax benefit as a result of a foreign currency exchange tax loss on the repatriation of prior-year earnings from R&D Europe to the U.S. Consolidated net sales and consolidated net earnings increased 2.5% and 1.6%, respectively, for fiscal 2009 as compared to fiscal 2008. The unfavorable impact on consolidated net sales of the change from the prior year in exchange rates used to convert sales in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars was $8.6 million for fiscal 2009. The unfavorable impact on fiscal 2009 consolidated net earnings, as compared to fiscal 2008, from changes in exchange rates used to convert foreign currency financial statements to U.S. dollars was $4.5 million. 15 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Net sales Net sales (in thousands): Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Biotechnology $177,889 $173,913 $165,663 R&D Europe 72,764 72,541 75,735 Hematology 18,394 17,502 16,022 -------- -------- -------- $269,047 $263,956 $257,420 ======== ======== ======== Consolidated net sales for fiscal 2010 were $269.0 million, an increase of $5.1 million (1.9%) from fiscal 2009. Consolidated net sales were favorably affected by the change from the prior year in exchange rates used to convert sales in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars. Excluding the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales increased 1.6% in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009. Included in consolidated net sales in fiscal 2010 were $2.8 million of sales of new biotechnology products, which had their first sale in fiscal 2010. Biotechnology net sales in fiscal 2010 increased $4.0 million (2.3%) from fiscal 2009. The majority of the biotechnology net sales increase was from increased sales volume. Biotechnology net sales to academic customers, Pacific Rim distributors and sales in China increased 4.0%, 10.5% and 21.8%, respectively, in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009. Biotechnology net sales to industrial pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers, Biotechnology's largest customer segment, were flat in fiscal 2010 compared to the prior fiscal year. R&D Europe net sales increased $223,000 (0.3%) in fiscal 2010. R&D Europe net sales decreased slightly (0.9%) for fiscal 2010 when measured at currency rates in effect in fiscal 2009. Hematology net sales in fiscal 2010 increased $892,000 (5.1%) mainly due to increased sales volume. Consolidated net sales for fiscal 2009 were $264.0 million, an increase of $6.5 million (2.5%) from fiscal 2008. Consolidated net sales were unfavorably affected by the change from the prior year in exchange rates used to convert sales in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars. Excluding the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales increased 5.9% in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008. Included in consolidated net sales in fiscal 2009 were $3.4 million of sales of new biotechnology products, which had their first sale in fiscal 2009. Biotechnology net sales in fiscal 2009 increased $8.3 million (5.0%) from fiscal 2008. The majority of the biotechnology net sales increase was from increased sales volume. Biotechnology net sales to international distributors, pharmaceutical/biotechnology customers and academic customers increased 6.2%, 4.7% and 3.9%, respectively, in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008. R&D Europe net sales decreased $3.2 million (4.2%) in fiscal 2009. R&D Europe net sales increased 7.2% for fiscal 2009 when measured at currency rates in effect in fiscal 2008, mainly as a result of increased sales volume. Hematology net sales in fiscal 2009 increased $1.5 million (9.2%) mainly due to increased sales volume. Gross margins Gross margins, as a percentage of net sales, were as follows: Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Biotechnology 80.1% 79.3% 79.7% R&D Europe 52.4% 51.7% 56.5% Hematology 47.7% 45.9% 41.0% Consolidated 79.8% 79.0% 79.5% 16 The improvement in consolidated gross margins for fiscal 2010 was mainly the result of incremental profit on increased sales volume in the biotechnology segment. The decline in consolidated gross margins for fiscal 2009 was mainly the result of lower gross margins at R&D Europe due to unfavorable exchange rates between a stronger U.S. dollar and weaker euro and British pound sterling. Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $989,000 (3.0%) and $3.6 million (9.7%) in fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses were as follows (in thousands): Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Biotechnology $ 18,947 $ 19,035 $ 20,981 R&D Europe 8,039 7,967 9,667 Hematology 1,393 1,463 2,003 Unallocated corporate expenses 3,796 4,699 4,064 -------- -------- -------- $ 32,175 $ 33,164 $ 36,715 ======== ======== ======== The change from the comparable fiscal year was primarily the result of the following (in thousands): Increase/(Decrease) 2010 2009 -------- -------- Legal fees $ (690) $ 786 Profit sharing and bonus expense (403) (3,759) Stock-based compensation expense (343) (249) Change in exchange rates to convert British pounds to U.S dollars 9 (2,024) Other, including annual wage, salary and benefit increases 438 1,695 -------- -------- $ (989) $ (3,551) ======== ======== The increase in legal fees in fiscal 2009 was due to patent interference and infringement litigation. Although ongoing in fiscal 2010, the legal expenses for the litigation in fiscal 2010 decreased from the fiscal 2009 level. The decrease in profit sharing and bonus expense in fiscal 2010 and 2009 reflect the change in financial results from the prior fiscal year. The remainder of the change in selling, general and administrative expenses for both fiscal years was mainly the result of annual wage, salary and benefit increases, partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense. Research and development expenses Research and development expenses increased $1.6 million (6.6%) and $1.2 million (5.2%) in fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively, as compared to prior- year periods. The increases were primarily the result of the development of new cytokines, antibodies and assay kits by R&D Systems' Biotechnology Division. The Company introduced over 1,400 new biotechnology products in both fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively. Research and development expenses are composed of the following (in thousands): Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Biotechnology $ 24,331 $ 22,792 $ 21,632 R&D Europe - - - Hematology 790 772 762 -------- -------- -------- $ 25,121 $ 23,564 $ 22,394 ======== ======== ======== 17 Amortization of intangible assets Amortization expense was $1.0 million in both fiscal 2010 and 2009, and $1.1 million in fiscal 2008, related mainly to technologies, trade names and customer relationships acquired as a result of acquisitions in fiscal 2006. Intangible assets are being amortized over lives of up to eight years. Interest income Interest income for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $4.4 million, $7.6 million and $12.2 million, respectively. The decrease in both fiscal 2010 and 2009 from the prior fiscal year was primarily the result of lower rates of return on cash and available-for-sale investments, offset in part by higher cash and available-for-sale investment balances. Other non-operating (expense) income Other non-operating (expense) income consists mainly of foreign currency transaction gains and losses, rental income, building expenses related to rental property and the Company's share of losses by equity method investees as follows (in thousands): Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Foreign currency (losses) gains $ (960) $ (34) $ 807 Rental income 413 481 404 Real estate taxes, depreciation and utilities (2,200) (2,208) (2,315) Losses by equity method investees (1,510) (1,290) (1,140) Impairment loss on marketable equity security - - (400) -------- -------- -------- $ (4,257) $ (3,051) $ (2,644) ======== ======== ======== The Company has two equity method of accounting investments in limited liability companies, Hemerus Medical, LLC (Hemerus) and Nephromics, LLC (Nephromics). At June 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company had a 13.8% and 22.0% interest in Hemerus, respectively. The Company has financial exposure to any losses of Hemerus to the extent of its net investment. The Company's net investment in Hemerus was $1.2 million and $2.2 million at June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. At both June 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company had a 16.8% interest in Nephromics. In fiscal 2010 and 2009, the Company received $50,000 and $1.3 million, respectively, in distributions from Nephromics. The Company has financial exposure to any losses of Nephromics to the extent of its net investment. The Company's net investment in Nephromics was $4.0 million and $4.5 million at June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company has an investment in the common stock of Immunicon Corporation (IMMC), a publicly-held company which was primarily focused on the development and sale of cancer diagnostic and research products and services. In June 2008, IMMC filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and announced the sale of substantially all of its assets. The Company wrote off its investment in IMMC in fiscal 2008. Income taxes Income taxes for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 were provided at rates of approximately 29.8%, 32.3% and 32.7%, respectively, of consolidated earnings before income taxes. The fiscal 2010 consolidated tax rate was positively impacted by a $4.7 million tax benefit from a foreign currency exchange tax loss related to the repatriation of 50 million British pound sterling ($74.4 million) from R&D Europe to the U.S. The Company had previously paid U.S. income taxes on the foreign earnings that were included in the repatriated funds. Excluding this tax benefit, the effective tax rate for fiscal 2010 would have been 32.8%. This is slightly higher than the fiscal 2009 effective tax rate primarily as a result of the expiration of the U.S. research and development credit at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010. The fiscal 2009 consolidated tax rate was positively impacted by the renewal of the U.S. research and development credit. The fiscal 2009 credit included $354,000 of credit for the January to June 2008 period. U.S. federal taxes have been reduced by the manufacturer's deduction provided for under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. Foreign income taxes have been provided at rates which approximate the tax rates in the countries in which R&D Europe and R&D China operate. The Company expects income tax rates for fiscal 2011 to range from 32% to 33%, excluding any impact of retroactively applied U.S. research and development tax credits. 18 QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data) Fiscal 2010 Fiscal 2009 -------------------------------- ------------------------------- First Second Third Fourth First Second Third Fourth Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net sales $66,534 $65,521 $70,278 $66,714 $69,324 $61,876 $67,866 $64,890 Gross margin 53,633 52,192 55,879 52,880 56,238 48,446 53,550 50,234 Earnings before taxes 39,707 36,699 41,439 38,601 42,948 34,150 40,841 37,424 Income taxes 12,935 11,978 9,051(1)12,706 14,355 10,528 13,200 12,038 Net earnings 26,772 24,721 32,388(1)25,895 28,593 23,622 27,641 25,386 Basic earnings per share 0.72 0.66 0.87(1) 0.70 0.74 0.62 0.74 0.68 Diluted earnings per share 0.72 0.66 0.87(1) 0.69 0.74 0.62 0.74 0.68 (1) Included a $4.7 million ($0.12 per share) tax benefit from a foreign currency exchange loss related to repatriation of funds from R&D Europe to the U.S. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments at June 30, 2010 were $310 million compared to $265 million at June 30, 2009. The Company has an unsecured line of credit of $750,000 available at June 30, 2010 which expires on October 31, 2010. The interest rate charged on the line of credit is a floating rate at the one month London interbank offered rate (Libor) plus 1.75%. There were no borrowings on the line in the current or prior fiscal year. At June 30, 2010, approximately 44%, 54%, and 2% of the Company's cash and equivalent account balances of $94.1 million are located in the U.S., United Kingdom and China, respectively. At June 30, 2010, approximately 98% of the Company's available-for-sale investment accounts are located in the U.S., with the remaining 2% in China. Management of the Company expects to be able to meet its foreseeable future cash and working capital requirements for operations, facility expansion and capital additions at each of its geographical locations through currently available funds, cash generated from operations and maturities of available-for-sale investments. Cash flows from operating activities The Company generated cash from operations of $111 million, $111 million and $115 million in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The cash generated from operating activities in fiscal 2010 as compared to fiscal 2009 was mainly the result of changes in operating assets and liabilities offset by increased net earnings of $4.5 million. In fiscal 2010 changes in operating assets and liabilities negatively impacted net cash from operating activities by $7.8 million compared to a $4.1 million negative impact in fiscal 2009. The decrease in cash generated from operating activities in fiscal 2009 as compared to fiscal 2008 was mainly the result of changes in operating assets and liabilities offset by increased net earnings of $1.7 million. In fiscal 2009, changes in operating assets and liabilities negatively impacted net cash from operating activities by $4.1 million compared to a positive impact in fiscal 2008 of $2.2 million as a result of changes in the timing of cash payments and receipts. 19 Cash flows from investing activities Capital additions consist of the following (in thousands): Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Laboratory, manufacturing, and computer equipment $ 1,972 $ 2,573 $ 3,010 Construction/renovation 2,672 1,810 5,012 Property purchases - 2,173 8,343 -------- -------- -------- $ 4,644 $ 6,556 $ 16,365 ======== ======== ======== Included in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 capital additions were approximately $2.7 million, $1.8 million and $4.3 million, respectively, related to the construction and renovation of laboratory space at the Company's Minneapolis facility. The additional construction in fiscal 2008 was for the build out of rental space for tenants. Construction was financed through available cash. In fiscal 2009, the Company purchased two parking lots adjacent to its Minneapolis facility for $2.2 million. In fiscal 2008, the Company purchased the facility it had been leasing for its R&D Europe operations in Abingdon, England for $8.3 million. The property purchases were financed through available cash. Capital additions for laboratory, manufacturing and computer equipment and space renovations planned for fiscal 2011 are expected to be approximately $3.6 million and are expected to be financed through currently available cash and cash generated from operations. The Company's net (sales) purchases of available-for-sale investments in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 were $110 million, ($26.5) million and $8.6 million, respectively. The large net purchase of available-for-sale investments in fiscal 2010 was primarily the result of the repatriation of funds from the U.K., where the funds had been invested in instruments classified as cash and equivalents, to the U.S. where the funds were invested in available-for-sale investments. The Company's investment policy is to place excess cash in municipal and corporate bonds with the objective of obtaining the highest possible return while minimizing risk and keeping the funds accessible. In fiscal 2010 and 2009, the Company received $50,000 and $1.3 million, respectively, in distributions from Nephromics. The Company began investing in Nephromics in fiscal 2007 and has an ownership percentage of 16.8% at June 30, 2010. At June 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company's net investment in Nephromics was $4.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively. In fiscal 2008, the Company invested $1.4 million in ACTGen, Inc. (ACTGen). The Company holds a 13.6% ownership percentage in ACTGen as of June 30, 2010 and the Company's net investment in ACTGen at June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively. In fiscal 2008, the Company also invested $300,000 in Hemerus. The Company began investing in Hemerus in fiscal 2004 and has an ownership percentage of 13.8% at June 30, 2010. The Company's net investment in Hemerus at June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $1.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively. Both of these investments were financed through cash and equivalents on hand. Cash flows from financing activities The Company received $3.3 million, $953,000 and $3.1 million for the exercise of options for 73,000, 21,000 and 86,000 shares of common stock in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company recognized excess tax benefits from stock option exercises of $196,000, $107,000 and $524,000 in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company purchased 9,827, 22,637 and 23,641 shares of common stock, respectively, for its employee Stock Bonus Plans at a cost of $607,000, $1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively. 20 In fiscal 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to $150 million of its common stock and in fiscal 2009 increased the authorization by $60 million. In fiscal 2010, the Company purchased and retired 284,000 shares of common stock at a market value of $16.9 million, of which $14.9 million was disbursed prior to June 30, 2010. In fiscal 2009 and 2008, the Company purchased and retired 1.4 million and 899,000 shares of common stock at market values of $90.6 million and $58.7 million, respectively. At June 30, 2010, approximately $50.6 million remained available for purchase under the fiscal 2009 authorization. In fiscal 2010 and 2009, the Company paid cash dividends of $38.4 million and $28.2 million, respectively. The Board of Directors periodically considers the payment of cash dividends. CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of June 30, 2010 (in thousands): Payments Due by Period Less than 1-3 3-5 After Total 1 Year Years Years 5 Years ------ --------- ----- ----- ------- Operating leases $ 988 $ 285 $ 484 $ 219 $ - Minimum royalty payments 156 156 - - - ------ --------- ----- ----- ------- $1,144 $ 441 $ 484 $ 219 $ - ====== ========= ===== ===== ======= The above table does not include any reserves for income taxes as the Company is unable to reasonably predict the ultimate amount or timing of settlement of any reserve for income taxes. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS The Company is not a party to any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements or obligations that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on the Company's financial condition, changes in the financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES Management's discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company has identified the policies outlined below as critical to its business operations and an understanding of results of operations. The listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all accounting policies. 21 Valuation of available-for-sale investments The Company considers all of its marketable securities available-for-sale and reports them at fair market value. Fair market values are based on quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments are excluded from income, but are included, net of taxes, in other comprehensive income. If an "other-than-temporary" impairment is determined to exist, the difference between the value of the investment recorded in the financial statements and the Company's current estimate of fair value is recognized as a charge to earnings in the period in which the impairment is determined. Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments at June 30, 2010 were $1.1 million. Valuation of inventory Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. The Company regularly reviews inventory on hand for slow-moving and obsolete inventory, inventory not meeting quality control standards and inventory subject to expiration. To meet strict customer quality standards, the Company has established a highly controlled manufacturing process for proteins and antibodies. New protein and antibody products require the initial manufacture of multiple batches to determine if quality standards can be consistently met. In addition, the Company will produce larger batches of established products than current sales requirements due to economies of scale. The manufacturing process for proteins and antibodies, therefore, has and will continue to produce quantities in excess of forecasted usage. The Company values its manufactured protein and antibody inventory based on a two-year forecast. The establishment of a two-year forecast requires considerable judgment. Protein and antibody quantities in excess of the two-year usage forecast are considered impaired and not included in the inventory value. The value of protein and antibody inventory reserved at June 30, 2010 was $19.9 million. Valuation of goodwill The Company is required to perform an annual review for impairment of goodwill in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other. Goodwill is considered to be impaired if it is determined that the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Assessing the impairment of goodwill requires the Company to make judgments regarding the fair value of the net assets of its reporting units and the allocation of the carrying amount of shared assets to the reporting units. The Company's annual assessment included comparison of the carrying amount of the net assets of a reporting unit, including goodwill, to the fair value of the reporting unit. A significant change in the Company's market capitalization or in the carrying amount of net assets of a reporting unit could result in an impairment charge in future periods. Goodwill at June 30, 2010 was $25.1 million. Valuation of investments The Company has made equity investments in several start-up and early development stage companies, among them ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCX), Hemerus, Nephromics and ACTGen. The accounting treatment of each investment (cost method or equity method) is dependent upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company's share in the equity of the investee and the Company's ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee. In determining which accounting treatment to apply, the Company must make judgments based upon the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the investment. The Company periodically assesses its equity investments for impairment. Development stage companies of the type the Company has invested in are dependent on their ability to raise additional funds to continue research and development efforts and on receiving patent protection and/or U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to market their products. If such funding were unavailable or inadequate to fund operations or if patent protection or FDA clearance were not received, the Company would potentially recognize an impairment loss to the extent of its remaining net investment. The Company's net investments at June 30, 2010 in CCX, Hemerus, Nephromics and ACTGen were $14.3 million, $1.2 million, $4.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively. 22 RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 167, now codified in ASC Topic 810, Consolidation. This statement amends the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities and is effective for the Company beginning July 1, 2010. The Company believes the adoption of this pronouncement will not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK At the end of fiscal 2010, the Company had an portfolio of fixed income securities, excluding those classified as cash and cash equivalents, of $216 million (see Note B to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). These securities, like all fixed income instruments, are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value if market interest rates increase. However, because the Company's fixed income securities are classified as available-for-sale, no gains or losses are recognized by the Company in its Consolidated Statement of Earnings due to changes in interest rates unless such securities are sold prior to maturity. The Company generally holds its fixed income securities until maturity and, historically, has not recorded any material gains or losses on any sale prior to maturity. The Company operates internationally, and thus is subject to potentially adverse movements in foreign currency rates. Approximately 29% of consolidated net sales are made in foreign currencies including 16% in euro, 7% in British pound sterling, 2% in Chinese yuan and the remaining 4% in other European currencies. As a result, the Company is exposed to market risk mainly from foreign exchange rate fluctuations of the euro, British pound sterling, and the Chinese yuan as compared to the U.S. dollar as the financial position and operating results of the Company's foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars for consolidation. Month-end exchange rates between the British pound sterling, euro and Chinese yuan and the U.S. dollar, which have not been weighted for actual sales volume in the applicable months in the periods, were as follows: Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- British pound: High $ 1.67 $ 1.98 $ 2.08 Low 1.45 1.43 1.98 Average 1.58 1.60 2.01 Euro: High $ 1.50 $ 1.56 $ 1.58 Low 1.22 1.27 1.36 Average 1.38 1.37 1.48 Chinese yuan: High $ .148 $ .147 $ .146 Low .146 .146 .132 Average .146 .146 .138 23 The Company's exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations also arises from trade receivables and intercompany payables denominated in one currency in the financial statements, but receivable or payable in another currency. At June 30, 2010, the Company had the following trade receivable and intercompany payables denominated in one currency but receivable or payable in another currency (in thousands): Denominated U. S. Dollar Currency Equivalent -------------- ------------ Accounts receivable in: Euros 894 Br. pound $ 1,335 Other European currencies 785 Br. pound $ 1,173 Intercompany payable in: Euros 265 Br. pound $ 394 U.S. dollars 1,178 Br. pound $ 1,760 U.S. dollars 3,732 Ch. Yuan $ 551 All of the above balances are revolving in nature and are not deemed to be long-term balances. The Company does not enter into foreign currency forward contracts to reduce its exposure to foreign currency rate changes on forecasted intercompany sales transactions or on intercompany foreign currency denominated balance sheet positions. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in "Other non-operating expense, net" in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. The effect of translating net assets of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as part of "Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income." The effects of a hypothetical simultaneous 10% appreciation in the U.S. dollar from June 30, 2010 levels against the euro, British pound sterling and Chinese yuan are as follows (in thousands): Decrease in translation of 2010 earnings into U.S. dollars $ 2,066 Decrease in translation of net assets of foreign subsidiaries 6,794 Additional transaction losses 231 24 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS TECHNE Corporation and Subsidiaries (in thousands, except per share data) Year Ended June 30, 2010 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- Net sales $269,047 $263,956 $257,420 Cost of sales 54,463 55,488 52,889 -------- -------- -------- Gross margin 214,584 208,468 204,531 -------- -------- -------- Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative 32,175 33,164 36,715 Research and development 25,121 23,564 22,394 Amortization of intangible assets 960 960 1,135 -------- -------- -------- Total operating expenses 58,256 57,688 60,244 -------- -------- -------- Operating income 156,328 150,780 144,287 -------- -------- -------- Other income (expense): Interest income 4,375 7,634 12,188 Other non-operating expense, net (4,257) (3,051) (2,644) -------- -------- -------- Total other income 118 4,583 9,544 -------- -------- -------- Earnings before income taxes 156,446 155,363 153,831 Income taxes 46,670 50,121 50,273 -------- -------- -------- Net earnings $109,776 $105,242 $103,558 ======== ======== ======== Earnings per share: Basic $ 2.95 $ 2.78 $ 2.65 Diluted $ 2.94 $ 2.78 $ 2.64 Cash dividends per common share: $ 1.03 $ 0.75 $ - Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 37,255 37,802 39,139 Diluted 37,347 37,900 39,247 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 25 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS TECHNE Corporation and Subsidiaries (in thousands, except share and per share data) June 30 2010 2009 -------- -------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 94,139 $160,940 Short-term available-for-sale investments 44,672 41,947 Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $347 and $357, respectively 30,850 29,516 Income taxes receivable 1,755 - Other receivables 1,532 1,637 Inventories 13,737 11,269 Deferred income taxes 13,379 9,345 Prepaid expenses 976 813 -------- -------- Total current assets 201,040 255,467 -------- -------- Available-for-sale investments 171,171 61,863 Property and equipment, net 97,400 100,133 Goodwill 25,068 25,068 Intangible assets, net 2,044 3,004 Deferred income taxes 1,011 3,601 Investments in unconsolidated entities 20,559 22,119 Other assets 523 750 -------- -------- $518,816 $472,005 ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable $ 5,232 $ 5,156 Salaries, wages and related accruals 3,781 4,010 Other accounts payable and accrued expenses 4,375 2,311 Income taxes payable 3,636 4,046 -------- -------- Total current liabilities 17,024 15,523 -------- -------- Commitments and contingencies (Note H) Shareholders' equity: Undesignated capital stock, no par; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued or outstanding - - Common stock, par value $.01 a share; authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 37,033,474 and 37,244,029 shares, respectively 370 372 Additional paid-in capital 122,537 117,946 Retained earnings 400,119 345,641 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (21,234) (7,477) -------- -------- Total shareholders' equity 501,792 456,482 -------- -------- $518,816 $472,005 ======== ======== See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 26 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) TECHNE Corporation and Subsidiaries (in thousands)