Beckman Coulter Sells Properties to Cut Debt

Beckman Coulter Inc. said it sold four properties in the United States, generating about $240 million to help reduce debt from financing its acquisition of Coulter Corp. last year.

Beckman, a Fullerton-based maker of blood and cell analysis systems, said it will continue to occupy the sites under long-term leasing arrangements. The deals reduced the company’s total debt from $1.33 billion to $1.12 billion as of March 31, the company said.

Properties include the company’s office and manufacturing buildings in Brea; its plant in Palo Alto; Coulter’s former corporate headquarters and plant in Miami; and office and manufacturing buildings in Chaska, Minn., that were purchased last year as part of another acquisition.

The company said it expects to continue generating strong sales of products and services that support instrument systems installed in customer laboratories. These sales represent nearly 70% of the company’s revenue, Beckman said.