Haemonetics ended the first quarter with $174 million in cash and $22 million of debt, and generated $5 million of free cash flow.

Brian Concannon, Haemonetics' President and CEO, said, "I'm extremely pleased with our start to fiscal 2010. We continue to deliver strong financial results while making excellent progress in execution to our full year goals for blood management solutions. Haemonetics remains extremely well positioned in the current economic environment."

In addition to revenue and earnings growth, Haemonetics reported strong margin expansion in the quarter. Gross margin grew 310 basis points to 53.8%. Despite incremental expenses from acquired businesses, the Company managed operating expenses to $57 million, up 9% as adjusted, leading to operating income of $26 million, up 24% as adjusted. Operating margin was 17.1%, up 240 basis points as adjusted.(1)

The Company also affirmed its full year guidance of 8-11% revenue growth, operating income growth of 12-15%, and earnings per share in a range of $2.75 to $2.85.

STRATEGIC AND SEGMENT GROWTH HIGHLIGHTS(1)

Haemonetics continues to make progress expanding its business. The Company reported the following highlights:

-- Early positive results with the new Express(TM) plasma collection

protocol consistently achieving a reduction in plasma donation time of

more than 20%

-- Success with its recent acquisition, Neoteric Technologies, signing two

new contracts for the BloodTrack(R) system

-- Progress implementing customized blood management solutions with 3

hospitals currently engaged in Haemonetics' InSight(TM) program and

13 hospitals engaged in Haemonetics' Impact program (InSight

accounts leverage a full range of Haemonetics' devices and services

to realize economic and clinical benefits across an entire hospital

system; Impact accounts leverage a specific device implementation and

measure economic benefit for discreet departments)

As noted, Haemonetics' first quarter fiscal 2010 reported revenues were $154 million, up 7%. Excluding the effects of currency, first quarter net revenues grew 6.2%. Reported revenues break down as follows:

Plasma disposables revenue was $59 million for the quarter, up 26%. Haemonetics' plasma business benefited from long-term contract implementation, global growth in plasma collections, and pricing increases. Haemonetics expects its plasma business will continue to be an ongoing revenue growth driver for the Company and increased its annual Plasma revenue growth estimate to 19-22% growth.

Platelet disposables (formerly reported as Blood Bank disposables) revenue was $34 million for the quarter, down 4%. The Platelet business was impacted by two, temporary factors: currency devaluations in Korea which put pressure on Haemonetics' distributor's sales and distributor changes in key markets. The planned distributor changes are expected to have a positive impact on the full year. Additionally, Japan platelet sales were down modestly. Haemonetics said it now expects full year Platelet revenue growth in a range of 0-2%.

Red Cell disposables revenue was $12 million for the quarter, level with the first quarter fiscal 09. Higher red cell inventories, stemming partly from the reduction in elective surgeries, reduced demand for Haemonetics' automated red cell collection systems. Haemonetics is seeing growth with some key customers and believes that once blood inventories stabilize, the Company can capitalize on red cell growth opportunities. In fact, in July, blood bank customers were beginning to report red cell shortages. Haemonetics double red cell collection technology positively impacts blood supplies because it can collect two units of red cells from one donor. Haemonetics affirmed its annual Red Cell revenue growth estimate of 6-8%.

Software Solutions revenue was $8 million for the quarter, up 17%. Because Haemonetics provides the information management platforms for plasma centers on a per donor fee, increased plasma collections positively impacted the Software Solutions line. Additionally, Haemonetics benefited from sales from its acquired companies, Altivation(R) and Neoteric, whose sales were not included in the first quarter of last fiscal year. Haemonetics affirmed its annual Software Solutions revenue growth rate estimate of 9-13%.

Haemonetics' Hospital disposable systems were impacted by the current economic environment. Fewer elective surgeries impacted the Surgical and OrthoPAT(R) product lines, and reduced hospital spending on equipment impacted a portion of the Diagnostics line. By product line, Surgical revenues were $17 million, up 1%; OrthoPAT revenues were $9 million, down 2%, and Diagnostics revenues were $5 million, down 2%. However, excluding TEG(R) equipment sales, Diagnostics disposables revenues grew 9%. Haemonetics estimates revenue will be flat in Surgical and expects growth of 5-7% in OrthoPAT and 15-20% in Diagnostics for the year.

Mr. Concannon added, "Haemonetics' business solutions address a critical need in healthcare to lower costs and improve patient care, and many economic factors favor our value proposition.