880430--2/21/2006--FISHER_SCIENTIFIC_INTERNATIONAL

related topics

{customer, product, revenue}

{cost, regulation, environmental}

{acquisition, growth, future}

{system, service, information}

{operation, international, foreign}

{tax, income, asset}

{debt, indebtedness, cash}

{personnel, key, retain}

{cost, contract, operation}

{product, market, service}

{cost, operation, labor}

Our growth strategy to acquire new businesses may not be successful and the integration of future acquisitions may be difficult and disruptive to our ongoing operations. Our results of operations depend on our customers research and development efforts; these efforts and the spending on them are beyond our control, and our results of operations may be adversely affected if our customers do not continue expending sufficient resources on these activities. Because we compete directly with certain of our largest customers and product suppliers, our results of operations could be adversely affected in the short term if these customers or suppliers abruptly discontinue or significantly modify their relationship with us. We may incur impairment charges on our goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives that would reduce our earnings. We rely heavily on manufacturing operations to produce the products we sell, and our business could be adversely affected by disruptions of our manufacturing operations. We have implemented, and will continue to implement, various cost-savings initiatives that may not achieve the anticipated results. Our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and prevent us from fulfilling our financial obligations. Because we rely heavily on third-party package-delivery services, a significant disruption in these services or significant increases in prices may disrupt our ability to ship products, increase our costs and lower our profitability. We are subject to regulation by various federal, state and foreign agencies that require us to comply with a wide variety of regulations, including those regarding the manufacture of products, the shipping of our products and environmental matters. If we lose our key personnel, our business could be adversely affected. We are subject to economic, political and other risks associated with our significant international sales and operations, which could adversely affect our business. We may be unable to adjust to rapid changes in the healthcare industry, some of which could adversely affect our business. We may incur unexpected costs from increases in fuel and raw material prices, which could reduce our earnings and cash flow. If we experience a significant disruption in our information technology systems or if we fail to implement new systems and software successfully, our business could be adversely affected.

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880430--2/21/2006--FISHER_SCIENTIFIC_INTERNATIONAL_INC