BD reports improved performance in second quarter of 2012

BD has reported a 3.6 percent year-on-year increase in revenues during the second quarter of its 2012 business year, which concluded on March 31st.

The healthcare company achieved a three-month sales total of $1.99 billion (1.23 billion pounds) for the period, which represented growth of 4.6 percent on a foreign currency-neutral basis.

BD's solid revenue growth was led by its medical and diagnostics business units, which helped to offset the challenges experienced by its biosciences division, while increased strength was also noted in emerging markets.

The company has now raised its guidance for revenue growth across the entire business year to between one and two percent, while it is also proceeding with the sale of the discovery labware unit of its biosciences segment.

This deal was agreed last month and will see BD receive $730 million from Corning in exchange for the business, excluding its advanced bioprocessing platform.

Vincent Forlenza, chief executive officer and president of BD, said: "We remain committed to our strategy of investing and innovating for growth, both organically and through acquisitions such as Kiestra Lab Automation."