Full year 2008: Tecan continues to achieve strong operating profitability

Profit before non-recurring impairment charges in Sample Management
further increased

* Operating profit margin before non-recurring items increased to
15.2% (2007: 14.6%)
* Net profit margin before non-recurring items raised to 12.9%
(2007: 12.6%)
* Unchanged distribution of CHF 0.90 per share
* Sales of CHF 396.0 million (2007: CHF 414.4 million); performance
adversely impacted by currency effects
* Growth of 1% achieved in local currencies
* Order entry increases 8.1% in local currencies to CHF 407.6
million (2007: CHF 398.5 million)
* Successful performance of Liquid Handling & Robotics, Tecan's
largest business segment
* Sample Management records operating loss; extraordinary
impairment charges totaling CHF 28.9 million necessary; high
order entry secured during second half of year
* Exceptionally strong balance sheet maintained

Männedorf, Switzerland, March 4, 2009 - The Tecan Group (SIX Swiss
Exchange: TECN) further improved its operating profitability in 2008.
Adjusted for the non-recurring effect of the extraordinary impairment
losses at Sample Management, Tecan recorded an operating profit
margin of 15.2% (2007: 14.6%) and a net profit margin of 12.9% (2007:
12.6%). Excluding non-recurring effects, operating profit was CHF
60.1 million (2007: CHF 60.3 million) and net profit was CHF 51.0
million (2007: CHF 52.4 million). Including the extraordinary
impairment losses totaling CHF 28.9 million, the operating profit
margin was 7.9% and the net profit margin 6.5%. Operating profit
including non-recurring effects was CHF 31.2 million and net profit
was CHF 25.6 million. Helped by the share buyback, which had an
accretive effect, earnings per share excluding non-recurring items
rose to CHF 4.67 (reported: CHF 2.35; 2007: CHF 4.54).
Sales amounted to CHF 396.0 million, 4.4% below the previous year's
level (2007: CHF 414.4 million). This development was largely driven
by currency effects, which had a negative impact on business during
the first half of 2008 in particular. In local currencies, Tecan
achieved a 1% increase in revenues.

Thomas Bachmann, CEO of Tecan, commented: "Tecan once again achieved
a strong operating profitability in 2008. Extraordinary impairment
charges were necessary in the Sample Management business segment.
Excluding this non-recurring effect, this is the fourth year in a row
that we have increased our operating profit margin at a higher rate
than sales, and it shows the sustainable impact of the measures we
have taken in recent years to boost our operating efficiency. Liquid
Handling & Robotics, our largest business segment, performed very
well. We also saw strong growth in the strategically important OEM
business. In particular, I would like to highlight the positive
development in the recurring consumables and service business, which
gives our company increased stability. Tecan continues to possess a
healthy balance sheet and has ample capital at its disposal to
achieve its objectives for internal and external growth. We feel we
are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead in the difficult
economic environment of 2009."

Regional and product-specific developments
Expressed in local currencies, Tecan achieved sales growth of 3.6% in
North America and 3.9% in Europe in the year under review. In Asia,
Tecan's sales were down 16.8% on the previous year in local currency
terms. This was largely the result of a basis effect caused by a
sharp increase in sales generated by two big projects the year
before. Adjusting for this effect, the company managed to further
expand its activities in this region. Business was particularly
strong in China, where Tecan opened its new regional headquarters for
the Asia Pacific region in 2008. The strategically important OEM
business and the recurring consumables and service business both
recorded solid growth.

Tecan's order entry rose 8.1% in local currencies to CHF 407.6
million (2007: CHF 398.5 million).

Information by business segment

Components & Detection
Sales at the Components & Detection business segment declined by 6.1%
in local currency to CHF 100.6 million in 2008 (2007: CHF 114.4
million). The detection activities were negatively affected by
exchange rate movements, particularly by the low value of the US
dollar against other major currencies in the first half of the year.
The components business was hit by a significant baseline effect due
to unusually high component sales in the previous year. It was also
the only area at Tecan to be hurt by the economic crisis in 2008,
which brought weaker demand on the part of major customers. Despite
the contraction in sales, Components & Detection increased its
operating profit to CHF 12.3 million (2007: CHF 11.6 million). This
amounts to 11.3% of sales (2007: 9.3%).

Liquid Handling & Robotics
Tecan's largest business segment - Liquid Handling & Robotics, which
accounted for around two-thirds of Group sales in 2008 - continued to
perform strongly. Sales rose 1.1% to CHF 265.6 million (2007: CHF
262.6 million), or 7.0% in local currency terms. The segment enjoyed
particularly strong sales growth in OEM business, as well as in
recurring consumables and service business. Operating profit
increased by 7.2% to CHF 61.0 million (2007: CHF 56.9 million)
resulting in an expanded operating profit margin of 22.9% (2007:
21.5%), a level comparing favorably to international peers.

Sample Management
Sales at the Sample Management business segment shrank by 20.2% in
the year under review to CHF 29.9 million (2007: CHF 37.4 million).
Excluding non-recurring items, Sample Management recorded an
operating loss of CHF 5.4 million (2007: profit of CHF 0.1 million).
Including impairment losses of CHF 28.9 million, the segment recorded
a total operating loss of CHF 34.2 million.
Sample Management suffered a setback in the development of a compact
storage system for the preservation of biological samples at -80°C.
After two prototypes completed internal testing in the first half of
2008, design and technical flaws with the complex system were
detected and the decision was taken to temporarily halt development
that now causes a delay in growth. Taken in conjunction with more
conservative market and sales projections, an extraordinary
impairment charge to goodwill and other intangibles totaling CHF 28.9
million became necessary. Tecan remains convinced of the significant
market potential for a storage system addressing this segment and the
strategic benefits that would be available as a total service
provider in conjunction with the company's liquid handling systems.
An improved concept of the -80°C compact storage system which
incorporates key findings of the earlier tests is currently in
development.

In addition, Sample Management is working intensively on implementing
measures to boost sales and profitability. In the second half of the
year, the business secured various exciting new contracts for storage
systems totaling CHF 24.0 million. Overall Sample Management recorded
a substantial increase in order entry, amounting to CHF 41.6 million
at the end of the year.

Strong balance sheet
Tecan continued to maintain an equity ratio of 48.9% (December 31,
2007: 54.7%).
Net liquidity was CHF 33.7 million (December 31, 2007: CHF 50.1
million). The strong balance sheet ratios were achieved despite the
repurchase of 969,198 shares with a value of CHF 55.5 million. As
such, Tecan consolidated its exceptionally strong balance sheet and
is well positioned for further internal and external growth.

Due to the changed environment in the capital and credit markets,
Tecan has decided to close as per March 4, 2009 the share buyback
program for capital reduction started on a second trading line at SIX
Swiss Exchange in May 2008, and to instead build up additional cash
resources to fund further growth.

Distribution to shareholders
The Board of Directors will propose an unchanged distribution of
CHF 0.90 per share to the shareholders at the company's Annual
General Meeting on April 22, 2009. Unlike the previous year, this
year's distribution will take the form of a dividend only. The
dividend will be doubled compared with the previous year.
Outlook
By now, it has become apparent that the global economy is in a
recession. Many sectors are suffering dramatic contractions of their
business. The life science industry has traditionally been regarded
as relatively immune to economic cycles: Nevertheless, a
macroeconomic environment, with a weak global economy and
persistently low US dollar/Swiss franc exchange rate, poses a major
challenge for parts of the life science sector. Tecan currently
expects that the company will not be fully immune to the fallout of
the current economic environment, albeit at a much more moderate
level. Extensive scenario planning will enable the company to rapidly
implement cost-saving measures should the need arise.

Moreover, Tecan has actively diversified its customer base over the
previous years and is now firmly established in less cyclical
markets. Large pharma groups account for a much smaller share of
Tecan's total sales than they did just a few years ago. The share of
projects with universities enjoying longer-term funding has
increased, and the company has also successfully expanded its more
stable diagnostics and OEM activities. In addition, Tecan has
increased the share of recurring consumables and service business.
Tecan has a net cash position and requires relatively little capital
for continued organic growth.

Tecan expects the market to remain uncertain in 2009 and therefore no
specific sales guidance can be provided. Tecan aims to develop sales
in local currencies at least at market-level. The company has
strengthened significantly in recent years. Although the market
environment has become more challenging, Tecan believes it is in a
position to make additional investments to increase growth rates in
the medium term. In 2009, Tecan aims specifically to invest in
innovation projects and in further expanding its distribution
capability and infrastructure in growth markets. In a scenario of
stable sales in local currencies, for 2009 Tecan anticipates an
operating profit margin of 13 to 14%. Should sales in local
currencies decline by 10%, the company expects an operating profit
margin of 10 to 11%.

Webcast
Tecan will hold an analyst and press meeting to discuss the 2008
annual results today at 10:00 am (CET). The event will also be
accessible via conference call or live audio webcast, which
interested parties can access at www.tecan.com. A link to the webcast
will be provided immediately prior to the event.

The dial-in numbers for the conference call are as follows:
Participants from Europe: +41 91 610 5600 or +44 207 107 0611 (UK)
Participants from the U.S.: +1 (1) 866 291 4166

Participants should if possible dial in 15 minutes before the start
of the event.

Next key dates
- The Annual General Meeting of Tecan's shareholders will take place
in Zurich at 3.00 p.m. (CEST) on April 22, 2009.
- The 2009 Interim Report will be published on August 13, 2009.

About Tecan
Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global provider of laboratory
instruments and solutions for the biopharma, forensic and diagnostic
industries. The company specializes in the development, production
and distribution of automation solutions for laboratories in the life
sciences sector. With its subsidiary REMP (www.remp.com), Tecan is
the market leader in automated laboratory storage and logistics
systems. Its clients include pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies, university research departments and diagnostic
laboratories. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has
manufacturing, research and development sites in both North America
and Europe and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries.
Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange
(TK: TECN/Reuters: TECZn.S/Swiss security number: 1210019).

For further information please contact:

+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Tecan Group | |
|-------------------------+------------------------------------|
| Dr. Rudolf Eugster | Martin Braendle |
|-------------------------+------------------------------------|
| Chief Financial Officer | Head of Corporate Communications & |
|-------------------------+------------------------------------|
| | Investor Relations |
|-------------------------+------------------------------------|
| investor@tecan.com | Tel. +41 (0) 44 922 84 30 |
|-------------------------+------------------------------------|
| www.tecan.com | Fax +41 (0) 44 922 88 89 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

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