IRIS International, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRIS) announced today that it had completed the purchase at book value of certain assets relating to the current distribution of Iris’ products in the UK and Germany by the company’s European distributor, IL UK and IL Germany of the Werfen Group. The assets purchased from IL UK and IL Germany consist primarily of customer leases related to the installed base of approximately 50 iQ200 IRIS instruments and service contracts in those countries, which were valued at $840,000 as December 31, 2009.

Cesar Garcia, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of IRIS International, noted, “While modest in size, this acquisition represents a major stepping stone toward expanding a direct sales presence within our international sales channels. The ability to sell direct in key international markets will contribute to increased sales penetration with higher margin revenue, as well as provide a foundation from which to launch our new product platforms.

“Based on our success in France where we have been selling direct since 2005, with an installed base of more than 100 iQ200 units to date, we have the management and systems in place to facilitate this expansion of direct sales in Europe.”

As previously announced, Mr. Alain Richard, who had been managing all sales for IRIS in Europe, the Middle East and Africa has transitioned to Director of Direct Sales and is responsible for IRIS’ direct sales organizations in France, Germany and the UK. Mr. Fabio Spalluto, a veteran sales and marketing executive with extensive experience with a large Italian in-vitro diagnostics company, joined IRIS Diagnostics in September 2009 as Director of Distributo

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