Acquisitions and Dispositions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosure

Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation [Table Text Block]

       The components of the purchase price and net assets acquired for 2011 acquisitions are as follows:

(In millions)			Phadia		Dionex		Other		Total
Purchase Price
	Cash paid		$	3,655.2	$	2,140.8	$	106.2	$	5,902.2
	Debt assumed			0.3		3.2		—		3.5
	Purchase price payable			—		—		0.4		0.4
	Fair value of contingent consideration			—		—		1.4		1.4
	Cash acquired			(117.2)		(114.9)		(1.1)		(233.2)
			$	3,538.3	$	2,029.1	$	106.9	$	5,674.3
Net Assets Acquired
	Current assets		$	323.5	$	227.8	$	34.6	$	585.9
	Property, plant and equipment			150.2		84.4		33.8		268.4
	Intangible assets:
		Customer relationships		956.8		495.3		17.6		1,469.7
		Product technology		696.3		350.2		20.0		1,066.5
		In-process research and development		—		18.3		—		18.3
		Tradenames and other		132.6		35.7		3.6		171.9
	Goodwill			1,817.3		1,316.9		29.9		3,164.1
	Other assets			67.9		4.1		1.1		73.1
	Liabilities assumed			(606.3)		(503.6)		(33.7)		(1,143.6)
			$	3,538.3	$	2,029.1	$	106.9	$	5,674.3

The components of the purchase price and net assets acquired for 2010 acquisitions, as revised in 2011 for finalization of the valuation process are as follows:

(In millions)			Ahura Scientific		Finnzymes		Fermentas		Other		Total
Purchase Price
	Cash paid		$	164.0	$	59.0	$	278.7	$	150.6	$	652.3
	Debt assumed			0.6		—		3.6		1.1		5.3
	Fair value of contingent consideration			19.6		—		—		3.9		23.5
	Cash acquired			(17.8)		(0.7)		(21.9)		(5.4)		(45.8)
			$	166.4	$	58.3	$	260.4	$	150.2	$	635.3
Net Assets Acquired
	Current assets		$	22.3	$	6.1	$	23.3	$	29.4	$	81.1
	Property, plant and equipment			3.3		3.4		9.6		4.1		20.4
	Intangible assets:
		Customer relationships		46.1		16.1		67.9		40.6		170.7
		Product technology		30.4		18.6		73.5		24.8		147.3
		In-process research and development		—		—		—		4.4		4.4
		Tradenames and other		0.4		0.1		5.3		4.4		10.2
	Goodwill			109.9		24.8		117.2		62.5		314.4
	Other assets			0.1		2.0		3.0		9.0		14.1
	Liabilities assumed			(46.1)		(12.8)		(39.4)		(29.0)		(127.3)
			$	166.4	$	58.3	$	260.4	$	150.2	$	635.3

       The components of the purchase price and net assets acquired for 2009 acquisitions, as revised in 2010 for finalization of the valuation process are as follows:

(In millions)			Biolab		B.R.A.H.M.S.		Other		Total
Purchase Price
	Cash paid		$	132.9	$	454.1	$	35.9	$	622.9
	Debt assumed			—		32.3		0.9		33.2
	Fair value of contingent consideration			—		—		0.6		0.6
	Cash acquired			(1.3)		(4.8)		(0.2)		(6.3)
	Other			—		—		0.9		0.9
			$	131.6	$	481.6	$	38.1	$	651.3
Net Assets Acquired
	Current assets		$	38.2	$	47.4	$	6.5	$	92.1
	Property, plant and equipment			3.3		32.9		0.8		37.0
	Intangible assets:
		Customer relationships		51.4		203.8		6.7		261.9
		Product technology		0.9		135.2		6.9		143.0
		Tradenames and other		1.3		9.4		0.2		10.9
	Goodwill			62.3		183.4		24.0		269.7
	Other assets			—		3.5		—		3.5
	Liabilities assumed			(25.8)		(134.0)		(7.0)		(166.8)
			$	131.6	$	481.6	$	38.1	$	651.3

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]

       Had the acquisitions of Phadia and Dionex been completed as of the beginning of 2010, the company's pro forma results for 2011 and 2010 would have been as follows:

(In millions except per share amounts)		2011		2010
Revenues		$	12,278.2	$	11,479.3
Income from Continuing Operations		$	1,130.3	$	816.1
Net Income		$	1,440.5	$	854.7
Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations:
	Basic	$	2.97	$	2.02
	Diluted	$	2.94	$	1.99
Earnings per Share:
	Basic	$	3.78	$	2.12
	Diluted	$	3.74	$	2.09

Pro forma results include the following non-recurring pro forma adjustments that were directly attributable to the business combinations:

• Pre-tax reduction in revenue of $13.1million in2010and $1.1 million in 2011,due to the impact of revaluing Dionex deferred revenue obligations to fair value.
•        Pre-tax charge to cost of revenues of $89.6 millionin2010, for the sale of Phadia and Dionex inventories revalued at the date of acquisition.
•        Pre-tax charge of $21.2 million in 2010, relating to monetizing equity awards held by Dionex employees at the date of acquisition.
•        Pre-tax charge of $80.7 million in 2010, for acquisition-related transaction costs incurred by both the company and the acquirees.

Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]

Operating results and balance sheet data of the discontinued operations were as follows:

(In millions)	2011		2010			2009
Revenues	$	54.3	$	226.2		$	205.3
Pre-tax Income		9.1		58.9			46.6
					December 31,
						2010
Other Current Assets						$	64.8
Other Assets							451.0
Other Accrued Expenses							17.6
Other Long-term Liabilities							58.4