12. Commitments & Contingent Liabilities	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES Rents and Leases Net rental expense under operating leases was $46.9 million, $45.5 million and $41.4 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Leases are principally for facilities and automobiles. Annual future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2014 under operating leases are as follows: 2015 - $39.3 million; 2016 - $33.6 million; 2017 - $25.7 million; 2018 - $18.5 million; and 2019 and beyond - $36.7 million. Deferred Profit Sharing Retirement Plan We have a profit sharing plan covering substantially all U.S. employees. Contributions are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Bio-Rad has no liability other than for the current year’s contribution. Contribution expense was $13.7 million, $13.5 million and $12.1 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Other Post-Employment Benefits In several foreign locations we are statutorily required to provide a lump sum severance or termination indemnity to our employees. Under these plans, the vested benefit obligation at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $46.1 million and $46.3 million, respectively, and has been included in Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These plans are not required to be funded, and as such, there is no trust or other device used to accumulate assets to settle these obligations. Purchase Obligations As of December 31, 2014, we had obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet of $110.5 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty. The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 are as follows: 2015 - $18.4 million, 2016 - $11.7 million, 2017 - $10.7 million, 2018 - $3.4 million, 2019 - $2.4 million and after 2019 - $63.9 million. As of December 31, 2014, we had purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet of $36.3 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty. The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 are as follows: 2015 - $17.6 million, 2016 - $4.3 million, 2017 - $2.6 million, 2018 - $3.4 million, 2019 - $5.3 million and after 2019 - $3.1 million. Letters of Credit In the ordinary course of business, we are at times required to post letters of credit. The letters of credit are issued by our banks to guarantee our obligations to various parties including insurance companies. We were contingently liable for $7.6 million of standby letters of credit with banks as of December 31, 2014. Contingent Consideration During the second quarter of 2014, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of GnuBIO. At the acquisition date, the contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach that could reach $70.0 million upon the achievement of all development/regulatory and sales milestones. The contingent consideration for the development/regulatory milestones was valued at $10.7 million at the acquisition date based on assumptions regarding the probability of achieving the milestones, with such amounts discounted to present value. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the contingent consideration related to the development/regulatory milestones was revalued to a fair value of $10.0 million as of December 31, 2014. The contingent consideration for the sales milestones at the acquisition date and at December 31, 2014 was determined to be negligible, using the risk-neutral probability of being in the money based on a Black-Scholes framework. During the third quarter of 2012, we recognized a contingent consideration liability of $44.6 million upon our acquisition of a new cell sorting system from Propel Labs, Inc. The fair value of the contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach related to the achievement of certain development and sales milestones. The development milestone was achieved and paid in 2013. In the third quarter of 2014, the first sales milestone was reached with cell sorting system purchase orders resulting in a payment of $2.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Effective as of December 31, 2014, we have amended certain key terms impacting the future payment of contingent consideration on the acquisition of the new cell sorting system from Propel Labs, Inc. These include a clarification of the annual performance period to include an additional 4 months, the replacement of bookings with invoicing as the event to determine the sales milestone, and the seller agreeing to support expanding our offerings to address the request from the customer for customizing our S3 unit. The intention of the parties is, among other things, to increase total market penetration, to evaluate new product configurations, and provide expanded customer support. The amended sales milestones range from 39% of annual invoices for the 2015 and 2016 annual calendar year performance periods to 40% for the extended September 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014 performance period. The contingent consideration was revalued by a net reduction of $0.7 million in 2014 to Selling, general and administrative expense to its estimated fair value of $17.7 million as of December 31, 2014. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of QuantaLife related to potential future payments due upon the achievement of certain sales and development milestones. The contingent consideration was initially recognized at its estimated fair value of $24.1 million, based on a probability-weighted income approach. As of the acquisition date of October 4, 2011, total contingent consideration could have originally reached a maximum of $48 million upon the achievement of all sales milestones and a development milestone. The development milestone was met as of December 31, 2012, resulting in a payment of $6.0 million in January 2013. During 2012, the first three short-term sales milestones were not met and therefore the fair value of the contingent consideration was lowered by $16.1 million and credited to Selling, general and administrative expense. During 2013, we did not expect that any of the remaining sales milestones would be met and therefore $2.0 million of the remaining contingent consideration liability was credited to Selling, general and administrative expense. Concentrations of Labor Subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements At December 31, 2014, approximately eight percent of Bio-Rad's approximately 3,100 U.S. employees were covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which will expire on November 8, 2016. Many of Bio-Rad's non-U.S. full-time employees, especially in France, are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Rents and Leases

Net rental expense under operating leases was $46.9 million, $45.5 million and $41.4 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Leases are principally for facilities and automobiles.

Annual future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2014 under operating leases are as follows: 2015 - $39.3 million; 2016 - $33.6 million; 2017 - $25.7 million; 2018 - $18.5 million; and 2019 and beyond - $36.7 million.

Deferred Profit Sharing Retirement Plan

We have a profit sharing plan covering substantially all U.S. employees. Contributions are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Bio-Rad has no liability other than for the current year’s contribution. Contribution expense was $13.7 million, $13.5 million and $12.1 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Other Post-Employment Benefits

In several foreign locations we are statutorily required to provide a lump sum severance or termination indemnity to our employees. Under these plans, the vested benefit obligation at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $46.1 million and $46.3 million, respectively, and has been included in Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These plans are not required to be funded, and as such, there is no trust or other device used to accumulate assets to settle these obligations.

Purchase Obligations

As of December 31, 2014, we had obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet of $110.5 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty.

The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 are as follows: 2015 - $18.4 million, 2016 - $11.7 million, 2017 - $10.7 million, 2018 - $3.4 million, 2019 - $2.4 million and after 2019 - $63.9 million.

As of December 31, 2014, we had purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet of $36.3 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty.

The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 are as follows: 2015 - $17.6 million, 2016 - $4.3 million, 2017 - $2.6 million, 2018 - $3.4 million, 2019 - $5.3 million and after 2019 - $3.1 million.

Letters of Credit

In the ordinary course of business, we are at times required to post letters of credit. The letters of credit are issued by our banks to guarantee our obligations to various parties including insurance companies. We were contingently liable for $7.6 million of standby letters of credit with banks as of December 31, 2014.

Contingent Consideration

During the second quarter of 2014, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of GnuBIO. At the acquisition date, the contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach that could reach $70.0 million upon the achievement of all development/regulatory and sales milestones. The contingent consideration for the development/regulatory milestones was valued at $10.7 million at the acquisition date based on assumptions regarding the probability of achieving the milestones, with such amounts discounted to present value. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the contingent consideration related to the development/regulatory milestones was revalued to a fair value of $10.0 million as of December 31, 2014. The contingent consideration for the sales milestones at the acquisition date and at December 31, 2014 was determined to be negligible, using the risk-neutral probability of being in the money based on a Black-Scholes framework.

During the third quarter of 2012, we recognized a contingent consideration liability of $44.6 million upon our acquisition of a new cell sorting system from Propel Labs, Inc. The fair value of the contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach related to the achievement of certain development and sales milestones. The development milestone was achieved and paid in 2013. In the third quarter of 2014, the first sales milestone was reached with cell sorting system purchase orders resulting in a payment of $2.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Effective as of December 31, 2014, we have amended certain key terms impacting the future payment of contingent consideration on the acquisition of the new cell sorting system from Propel Labs, Inc. These include a clarification of the annual performance period to include an additional 4 months, the replacement of bookings with invoicing as the event to determine the sales milestone, and the seller agreeing to support expanding our offerings to address the request from the customer for customizing our S3 unit. The intention of the parties is, among other things, to increase total market penetration, to evaluate new product configurations, and provide expanded customer support. The amended sales milestones range from 39% of annual invoices for the 2015 and 2016 annual calendar year performance periods to 40% for the extended September 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014 performance period. The contingent consideration was revalued by a net reduction of $0.7 million in 2014 to Selling, general and administrative expense to its estimated fair value of $17.7 million as of December 31, 2014.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of QuantaLife related to potential future payments due upon the achievement of certain sales and development milestones. The contingent consideration was initially recognized at its estimated fair value of $24.1 million, based on a probability-weighted income approach. As of the acquisition date of October 4, 2011, total contingent consideration could have originally reached a maximum of $48 million upon the achievement of all sales milestones and a development milestone. The development milestone was met as of December 31, 2012, resulting in a payment of $6.0 million in January 2013. During 2012, the first three short-term sales milestones were not met and therefore the fair value of the contingent consideration was lowered by $16.1 million and credited to Selling, general and administrative expense. During 2013, we did not expect that any of the remaining sales milestones would be met and therefore $2.0 million of the remaining contingent consideration liability was credited to Selling, general and administrative expense.

Concentrations of Labor Subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements

At December 31, 2014, approximately eight percent of Bio-Rad's approximately 3,100 U.S. employees were covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which will expire on November 8, 2016. Many of Bio-Rad's non-U.S. full-time employees, especially in France, are covered by collective bargaining agreements.