Sysmex and bioMérieux have signed an agreement by which Sysmex will take a 34 percent equity stake in bioMérieux Japan, creating a new company, Sysmex bioMérieux, which will manage the regulatory filing and marketing activities of bioMérieux product ranges in Japan, beginning April 1. The sales and customer service activities will be contracted out to Kobe, Japan-based Sysmex.

The restructuring of bioMérieux Japan into Sysmex bioMérieux will result in a non-recurring charge of approximately $3.7 million U.S. (€2.5 million) in bioMérieux’s 2008 financial results, according to Sysmex.