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1. Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure
1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND USE OF ESTIMATES

Basis of Presentation

In this report, “Bio-Rad,” “we,” “us,” "the Company" and “our” refer to Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Bio-Rad have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly state the results of the interim periods presented.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  Results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.  The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

We evaluate subsequent events and the evidence they provide about conditions existing at the date of the balance sheet as well as conditions that arose after the balance sheet date but through the date the financial statements are issued.  The effects of conditions that existed at the balance sheet date are recognized in the financial statements. Events and conditions arising after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued are evaluated to determine if disclosure is required to keep the financial statements from being misleading.  To the extent such events and conditions exist, disclosures are made regarding the nature of events and the estimated financial effects for those events and conditions.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.   Bio-Rad bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other market-specific and other relevant 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 could differ materially from those estimates.

Correction of Immaterial Errors Related to Prior Periods

During the first quarter of 2012, we identified an error in the consolidated financial statements for the years 2007 through 2011, related to a foreign supplemental tax associated with social benefits. We incorrectly interpreted and applied the local statutes to our circumstances. We estimate that we will be required to pay an amount of $6.1 million, which includes taxes, penalties and interest. The foreign supplemental tax, and the related penalties and interest, are not deductible for income tax purposes, and as such this error does not have an impact on Bio-Rad's tax provision.

Additionally, we identified two other errors pertaining to prior periods, both related to income taxes, as follows:

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an overstatement of income tax expense in the first quarter of 2011 in the amount of $1.6 million, due to a delay in recognizing a reduction in a foreign tax rate; and
•
an understatement of income tax expense over the years 2008 to 2011 in the amount of $0.9 million, due to claiming a tax deduction in excess of a statutory limit.


The effect of the errors on the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 consolidated financial statements would have been charges of $1.1 million, $1.5 million, $1.3 million and $1.6 million, and a $0.1 million benefit, respectively.

Management evaluated the materiality of the errors from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Based on such evaluation, we have concluded that while the accumulation of these errors was significant to the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, their correction would not be material to any individual prior period or for the year ending December 31, 2012, nor did it have an effect on the trend of financial results, taking into account the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108). Accordingly, we have corrected these errors in the results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012 as follows: (i) $4.1 million charge to Cost of goods sold; (ii) $1.2 million charge to Interest expense; (iii) $0.8 million charge to Other (income) expense, net; and (iv) an income tax benefit of $0.7 million.
   
Recent Accounting Standards Updates

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance in regard to fair value measurement. The new guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2012 and it did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance in regard to the presentation of comprehensive income. In the new guidance an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB deferred the new requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement. We adopted this guidance using the two separate but consecutive statements as of January 1, 2012.