##### Table of Contents

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549



---



Form 10-Q



|x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
|- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004.



or



| ̈ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
|- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



For the transition period from  to
.



Commission File Number: 000-20931



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Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



|                                                               |  |                                     
|-------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ------------------------------------
|Delaware                                                       |  | 94-2976937                          
|(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |  | (I.R.S. employer identification no.)



|                                         |  |           
|---------------------------------------- |  | ----------
|1910 Innovation Park Drive Tucson, AZ    |  | 85737     
|(Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Zip Code)



Registrants
telephone number, including area code: (520) 887-2155



Not Applicable

(Formal name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed from last report)



---



Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No ̈



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act).    Yes  x    No ̈



The number of shares outstanding of the registrants common stock,
$0.001 par value was 17,200,179 as of April 30, 2004.



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.



INDEX



|         |  |                                                                                            |  |     
|-------- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |  | ----
|         |  |                                                                                            |  | PAGE
|         |  |                                                                                           
|PART I.  |  | FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                                      |  |     
|         |  |                                                                                           
|Item 1.  |  | Financial Statements (Unaudited)                                                           |  |     
|         |  |                                                                                           
|         |  | Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003                 |  | 3   
|         |  |                                                                                           
|         |  | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 |  | 4   
|         |  |                                                                                           
|         |  | Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 |  | 5   
|         |  |                                                                                           
|         |  | Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements                                       |  | 6   
|         |  |                                                                                           
|Item 2.  |  | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      |  | 11  
|         |  |                                                                                           
|Item 3.  |  | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk                                 |  | 19  
|         |  |                                                                                           
|Item 4.  |  | Controls and Procedures                                                                    |  | 20  
|         |  |                                                                                           
|PART II. |  | OTHER INFORMATION                                                                          |  |     
|         |  |                                                                                           
|Item 1.  |  | Legal Proceedings                                                                          |  | 21  
|         |  |                                                                                           
|Item 6.  |  | Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                                           |  | 24  
|         |  |                                                                                           
|         |  | Signature                                                                                  |  | 25  
|         |  |                                                                                           
|         |  | Exhibits                                                                                   |  |     



2



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)



|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | -------------- | ------- | - | ---------------- | - | ------- | -
|                                                                                                                                                              |  | March 31, 2004 |         |   | December 31,2003 |  
|ASSETS                                                                                                                                                        |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |               
|Current assets:                                                                                                                                               |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                     |  | $              | 11,791  |   |                  | $ | 19,711  |  
|Short-term investments                                                                                                                                        |  |                | 25,059  |   |                  |   | 19,974  |  
|Trade accounts receivable, net                                                                                                                                |  |                | 24,714  |   |                  |   | 27,398  |  
|Inventories, net                                                                                                                                              |  |                | 10,824  |   |                  |   | 10,483  |  
|Prepaid expenses                                                                                                                                              |  |                | 924     |   |                  |   | 594     |  
|Deferred tax assets                                                                                                                                           |  |                | 3,183   |   |                  |   | 3,200   |  
|Other current assets                                                                                                                                          |  |                | 1,212   |   |                  |   | 967     |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Total current assets                                                                                                                                          |  |                | 77,707  |   |                  |   | 82,327  |  
|Property and equipment, net                                                                                                                                   |  |                | 43,941  |   |                  |   | 42,516  |  
|Goodwill                                                                                                                                                      |  |                | 2,804   |   |                  |   | 2,804   |  
|Intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                        |  |                | 3,937   |   |                  |   | 3,982   |  
|Other assets                                                                                                                                                  |  |                | 4,050   |   |                  |   | 3,983   |  
|Deferred tax assets, net of current portion                                                                                                                   |  |                | 5,602   |   |                  |   | 5,602   |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Total assets                                                                                                                                                  |  | $              | 138,041 |   |                  | $ | 141,214 |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |               
|LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY                                                                                                                          |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |               
|Current liabilities:                                                                                                                                          |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Accounts payable                                                                                                                                              |  | $              | 13,222  |   |                  | $ | 10,081  |  
|Other current liabilities                                                                                                                                     |  |                | 14,290  |   |                  |   | 16,304  |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Total current liabilities                                                                                                                                     |  |                | 27,512  |   |                  |   | 26,385  |  
|Long term debt                                                                                                                                                |  |                | 2,339   |   |                  |   | 2,453   |  
|Commitments and Contingencies                                                                                                                                 |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Stockholders equity:                                                                                                                                         |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Common stock$.001 par value; 50,000 shares authorized; 17,102 and 16,709 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2004 and December
31, 2003, respectively |  |                | 17      |   |                  |   | 17      |  
|Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                                    |  |                | 157,170 |   |                  |   | 154,395 |  
|Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                                           |  |                | (32,546 | ) |                  |   | (35,149 | )
|Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                                                          |  |                | (507    | ) |                  |   | (171    | )
|Treasury stock478 shares and 250 shares at cost at March 31, 2004 and at December 31, 2003, respectively                                                     |  |                | (15,944 | ) |                  |   | (6,716  | )
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Total stockholders equity                                                                                                                                    |  |                | 108,190 |   |                  |   | 112,376 |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  
|Total liabilities and stockholders equity                                                                                                                    |  | $              | 138,041 |   |                  | $ | 141,214 |  
|                                                                                                                                                              |  |                |         |   |                  |   |         |  



See accompanying notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)



|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|------------------------------------------ |  | ---------------------------- | ------ | - | ---- | - | ------- | -
|                                           |  | Three Months Ended March 31, |       
|                                           |  | 2004                         |        |   | 2003 |  
|Sales:                                     |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Reagents and other                         |  | $                            | 31,036 |   |      | $ | $23,176 |  
|Instruments                                |  |                              | 5,474  |   |      |   | 6,084   |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Total net sales                            |  |                              | 36,510 |   |      |   | 29,260  |  
|Cost of goods sold                         |  |                              | 9,692  |   |      |   | 8,497   |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Gross profit                               |  |                              | 26,818 |   |      |   | 20,763  |  
|Operating expenses:                        |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Research and development                   |  |                              | 5,150  |   |      |   | 4,295   |  
|Selling, general and administrative        |  |                              | 18,253 |   |      |   | 14,693  |  
|Amortization of intangible assets          |  |                              | 289    |   |      |   | 457     |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Income from operations                     |  |                              | 3,126  |   |      |   | 1,318   |  
|Interest and other income                  |  |                              | 50     |   |      |   | 168     |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Income before taxes                        |  |                              | 3,176  |   |      |   | 1,486   |  
|Provision for income taxes                 |  |                              | (573   | ) |      |   | (67     | )
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Net income                                 |  | $                            | 2,603  |   |      | $ | 1,419   |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Earnings per common share:                 |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Basic                                     |  | $                            | 0.16   |   |      | $ | 0.09    |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Diluted                                   |  | $                            | 0.15   |   |      | $ | 0.09    |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Shares used in computing per common share: |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Basic                                     |  |                              | 16,786 |   |      |   | 16,362  |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  
|Diluted                                   |  |                              | 17,862 |   |      |   | 16,655  |  
|                                           |  |                              |        |   |      |   |         |  



See accompanying notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements



4



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)



|                                                                              |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ---------------------------- | ------- | - | ---- | - | ------ | -
|                                                                              |  | Three Months Ended March 31, |        
|                                                                              |  | 2004                         |         |   | 2003 |  
|Operating activities:                                                         |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Net income                                                                    |  | $                            | 2,603   |   |      | $ | 1,419  |  
|Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Depreciation and amortization                                                 |  |                              | 2,006   |   |      |   | 2,276  |  
|Changes in operating assets and liabilities                                   |  |                              | 2,699   |   |      |   | (702   | )
|                                                                              |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Net cash provided by operating activities                                     |  |                              | 7,308   |   |      |   | 2,993  |  
|                                                                              |  |                             
|Investing activities:                                                         |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Purchase of property and equipment                                            |  |                              | (2,996  | ) |      |   | (976   | )
|Purchase of intangible assets, net                                            |  |                              | (244    | ) |      |   | (64    | )
|Purchases of short-term investments                                           |  |                              | (11,522 | ) |      |   |       |  
|Proceeds from sale of short-term investments                                  |  |                              | 6,464   |   |      |   |       |  
|                                                                              |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Net cash used in investing activities                                         |  |                              | (8,298  | ) |      |   | (1,040 | )
|                                                                              |  |                             
|Financing activities:                                                         |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Issuance of common stock                                                      |  |                              | 2,775   |   |      |   | 1,043  |  
|Repayments of debt                                                            |  |                              | (114    | ) |      |   | (18    | )
|Purchases of common stock for treasury                                        |  |                              | (9,228  | ) |      |   | (750   | )
|                                                                              |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                           |  |                              | (6,567  | ) |      |   | 275    |  
|Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents                   |  |                              | (363    | ) |      |   | (26    | )
|                                                                              |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                          |  |                              | (7,920  | ) |      |   | 2,202  |  
|Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                |  |                              | 19,711  |   |      |   | 18,708 |  
|                                                                              |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  
|Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                      |  | $                            | 11,791  |   |      | $ | 20,910 |  
|                                                                              |  |                              |         |   |      |   |        |  



See accompanying notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)



|1. | Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
|-- | ------------------------------------------------



Organization:Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Ventana or the Company) develops, manufactures and markets proprietary
instruments and reagents that automate diagnostic procedures used for molecular analysis of cells. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Ventana Medical Systems, S.A., Ventana
Medical Systems GmbH, Ventana Medical Systems Japan K.K., and Ventana Medical Systems Australia Pty. Ltd. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. We do not have any subsidiaries in which we do not own 100% of the
outstanding stock.



Basis of Presentation:The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and
Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for
the year ended December 31, 2004. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.



Stock-Based Employee Compensation: At March 31, 2004, the Company has
six stock-based employee compensation plans. The Company accounts for those plans under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (APB 25), Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related
Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(in thousands, except per share
data)

(Unaudited)



|1. | Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
|-- | ------------------------------------------------------------



The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (SFAS No. 123), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation:



|                                                                                                                                                            |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | -------- | ------ | - | ---- | - | ------ | -
|                                                                                                                                                            |  | March 31 |       
|                                                                                                                                                            |  | 2004     |        |   | 2003 |  
|Net income, as reported                                                                                                                                     |  | $        | 2,603  |   |      | $ | 1,419  |  
|Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based methods for all awards, no tax benefit available in
2004 and 2003 |  |          | (5,866 | ) |      |   | (2,635 | )
|                                                                                                                                                            |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  
|Pro-forma net loss                                                                                                                                          |  | $        | (3,263 | ) |      | $ | (1,216 | )
|                                                                                                                                                            |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  
|Earnings per share:                                                                                                                                         |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  
|Basicas reported                                                                                                                                           |  | $        | 0.16   |   |      | $ | 0.09   |  
|                                                                                                                                                            |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  
|Basicpro forma                                                                                                                                             |  | $        | (0.19  | ) |      | $ | (0.07  | )
|                                                                                                                                                            |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  
|Dilutedas reported                                                                                                                                         |  | $        | 0.15   |   |      | $ | 0.09   |  
|                                                                                                                                                            |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  
|Dilutedpro forma                                                                                                                                           |  | $        | (0.19  | ) |      | $ | (0.07  | )
|                                                                                                                                                            |  |          |        |   |      |   |        |  



As required, the pro
forma disclosures above include options granted since January 1, 1995. Consequently, the effects of applying SFAS No. 123 for providing pro forma disclosures may not be representative of the effects on reported net income for future years until all
options outstanding are included in the pro forma disclosures. For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of stock-based compensation plans and other options is amortized to expense primarily over the vesting period.



Reclassification:Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified
to conform to the current period presentation.



|2. | Inventories
|-- | -----------



Inventories consist of the following:



|                                 |  |                |        |                   |   |       
|-------------------------------- |  | -------------- | ------ | ----------------- | - | ------
|                                 |  | March 31, 2004 |        | December 31, 2003
|Raw material and work-in-process |  | $              | 4,700  |                   | $ | 2,977 
|Finished goods                   |  |                | 6,124  |                   |   | 7,506 
|                                 |  |                |        |                   |   |       
|                                 |  | $              | 10,824 |                   | $ | 10,483
|                                 |  |                |        |                   |   |       



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Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(in thousands, except per share
data)

(Unaudited)



|3. | Comprehensive Income
|-- | --------------------



The components of comprehensive income for the three months ending March 31, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:



|                                                      |  |                             |       |   |      |   |       |  
|----------------------------------------------------- |  | --------------------------- | ----- | - | ---- | - | ----- | -
|                                                      |  | Three MonthsEnded March 31, |      
|                                                      |  | 2004                        |       |   | 2003 |  
|Net income                                            |  | $                           | 2,603 |   |      | $ | 1,419 |  
|Net unrealized gains on available for sale securities |  |                             | 27    |   |      |   |      |  
|Foreign currency translation                          |  |                             | (363  | ) |      |   | (26   | )
|                                                      |  |                             |       |   |      |   |       |  
|Comprehensive income                                  |  | $                           | 2,267 |   |      | $ | 1,393 |  
|                                                      |  |                             |       |   |      |   |       |  



Accumulated
comprehensive income consists of net unrealized gains on available for sale securities and foreign currency translation adjustments.



|4. | Provision for Income Taxes
|-- | --------------------------



The income tax provision for the three months ending March 31, 2004 and 2003 consists of certain state and international tax expenses. Income tax expense
with respect to domestic income generated during the same period was offset by the utilization of existing net operating loss carryforwards. The Company also evaluated the recoverability of its net deferred tax assets and determined that the
balances existing at March 31, 2004, represented the amount that is more likely than not of being recovered in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the valuation reserve associated with the Companys gross deferred tax assets was reduced to the
extent net operating loss carryforwards were utilized in the quarter ended March 31, 2004.



|5. | Line of Credit
|-- | --------------



The Company had a $12,000 line of credit arrangement with a bank, which the Company canceled effective March 31, 2004.



|6. | Stock Repurchase
|-- | ----------------



On September 8, 1998, the Companys Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to 750 shares of its common stock in the open market
or in privately negotiated transactions. During the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company purchased 227.6 and 40.4 shares of its common stock for $9,228 and $750, respectively. The repurchased shares were returned to the status of
authorized but unissued shares. The timing and amount of any future repurchases will depend on market conditions and corporate considerations.



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(in thousands, except per share
data)

(Unaudited)



|7. | Stock Repurchases During the First Quarter 2004
|-- | -----------------------------------------------



|                                 |  |                       |  |                             |       |                                                                              |       |                                                                             |      
|-------------------------------- |  | --------------------- |  | --------------------------- | ----- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -----
|Period                           |  | Total Numberof Shares |  | Average PricePaid Per Share |       | Total Number ofShares Purchasedas Part of PubliclyAnnounced Plansor Programs |       | MaximumNumber of Sharesthat may yet beRepurchasedUnder the Plansor Programs
|January 1, 2004January 31, 2004 |  |                      |  |                             |      |                                                                              |      |                                                                             | 499.6
|February 1February 29, 2004     |  |                      |  |                             |      |                                                                              |      |                                                                             | 499.6
|March 1March 31, 2004           |  | 227.6                 |  | $                           | 40.54 |                                                                              | 227.6 |                                                                             | 272.0



|8. | Operating Segment and Enterprise Data
|-- | -------------------------------------



The Company has two reportable segments: North America (the United States and Canada) and International (primarily Europe, Japan and Australia). Segment
information for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:



|                            |  |                                   |         |               |   |              |  |   |         |   |  |   |        
|--------------------------- |  | --------------------------------- | ------- | ------------- | - | ------------ |  | - | ------- | - |  | - | -------
|                            |  | Three months ended March 31, 2004
|                            |  | NorthAmerica                      |         | International |   | Eliminations |  |   | Totals 
|Sales to external customers |  | $                                 | 24,918  |               | $ | 11,592       |  | $ |        |   |  | $ | 36,510 
|Segment profit              |  |                                   | 522     |               |   | 2,081        |  |   |        |   |  |   | 2,603  
|Segment assets              |  |                                   | 128,815 |               |   | 25,595       |  |   | (16,369 | ) |  |   | 138,041



|                            |  |                                   |         |               |   |              |  |   |         |   |  |   |        
|--------------------------- |  | --------------------------------- | ------- | ------------- | - | ------------ |  | - | ------- | - |  | - | -------
|                            |  | Three months ended March 31, 2003
|                            |  | NorthAmerica                      |         | International |   | Eliminations |  |   | Totals 
|Sales to external customers |  | $                                 | 20,938  |               | $ | 8,322        |  | $ |        |   |  | $ | 29,260 
|Segment profit              |  |                                   | 294     |               |   | 1,125        |  |   |        |   |  |   | 1,419  
|Segment assets              |  |                                   | 119,802 |               |   | 25,415       |  |   | (19,723 | ) |  |   | 125,494



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##### Table of Contents

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(in thousands, except per share
data)

(Unaudited)



|9. | Commitments and Contingencies
|-- | -----------------------------



The Company is litigating several matters with CytoLogix, Inc., a Massachusetts company. The litigation primarily involves intellectual property and
related matters associated with the Companys Discovery® and BenchMark®
instruments. In December 2003, a jury found Ventana liable for infringing two patents (no willfulness), and not liable for misappropriation of trade secrets. A hearing for an injunction occurred in February 2004. At the hearing, the Judge ruled on
several issues, including denying the parties post-trial motions and framing the scope of the injunction. The form of the permanent injunction was filed with the court in April 2004, and will, assuming it is entered in its present form,
prohibit Ventana from making and selling the Discovery® and BenchMark®
systems, but will not prohibit their continued use by customers, and will not prohibit Ventana from supplying reagents to customers. Hearings on the issues of patent damages and antitrust-related claims will not be scheduled until the conclusion of
Ventanas appeal to the Federal Circuit on claim construction issues. This appeal is likely to be decided in 2005. Management has not recorded any asset impairment subject to the imminent injunction, or accrued any liability with respect to
this litigation given that management, after conferring with legal counsel, believes that it is probable, as defined in SFAS No. 5, that the Courts current decision will be overturned.



In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in a limited number of
legal actions, both as plaintiff and defendant, and could incur uninsured liability in any one or more of them. Although the outcome of these actions is not presently determinable, it is the opinion of the Companys management, based upon the
information available at this time, that the expected outcome of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company.



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Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.



|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company should be read in conjunction
with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. This Report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, contain risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking
statements. A wide variety of factors could cause or contribute to such differences and could adversely impact revenues, profitability, cash flows and capital needs. Such factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control, include the
following: market acceptance of new automated histology products, continued success in asset management, continued improvements in our manufacturing efficiencies, on-schedule launches of our new products, currency exchange rate variability, adverse
determinations in various outstanding litigations, competition and competitive pressures on pricing and general economic conditions in the United States and in the regions served by the Company.



Results of Operations



Net Sales



Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2004 increased 25% compared to the same period in 2003 to $36.5 million from $29.3 million. This sales
growth was attributable to a 34% increase in reagents and other sales. This growth came from a 15% increase in our installed base from approximately 4,100 in 2003 to approximately 4,700 in 2004 and a 10% year-over-year improvement in the average
reagent annuity stream per installed instrument to $22,500 from $20,400 in 2003.



By geographic segment, total sales increased in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003 by 39% internationally ($11.6 million versus $8.3 million) and 19% in North America ($24.9 million versus
$20.9 million).



Gross Profit



Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2004 increased to $26.8
million from $20.8 million for the same period in 2003. The Companys gross margin for the three months ended March 31, 2004 increased to 73% from 71% for the same period in 2003, primarily due to the higher mix of reagent and other sales,
which have a higher gross margin than instruments.



Research and Development



Research and development spending for the three months
ended March 31, 2004 increased to $5.2 million from $4.3 million for the same period in 2003. This increase was driven by our continued, aggressive new platform development programs and our reagent chemistry application initiatives focused primarily
on the histology market.



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|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A)



Presented below is a summary of SG&A expense for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands):



|                    |  |                              |        |            |      |   |   |   |            |  |    |  
|------------------- |  | ---------------------------- | ------ | ---------- | ---- | - | - | - | ---------- |  | -- | -
|                    |  | Three Months Ended March 31, |       
|                    |  | 2004                         |        |            | 2003 |  
|                    |  | $                            |        | % NetSales |      |   | $ |   | % NetSales | 
|Sales and marketing |  | $                            | 13,190 |            | 36   | % |   | $ | 10,748     |  | 37 | %
|Administration      |  |                              | 5,063  |            | 14   | % |   |   | 3,945      |  | 13 | %
|                    |  |                              |        |            |      |   |   |   |            |  |    |  
|Total SG&A          |  | $                            | 18,253 |            | 50   | % |   | $ | 14,693     |  | 50 | %
|                    |  |                              |        |            |      |   |   |   |            |  |    |  



SG&A expense for
the three months ended March 31, 2004 increased to $18.3 million from $14.7 million for the same period in 2003. The increase is primarily attributed to increased investments in our sales force and associated infrastructure and continued development
of our marketing organization. We also continued to invest in fortifying our intellectual property position.



Amortization of Intangible Assets



Amortization expense of intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2004 decreased to $0.3 million from $0.5 million for the same period in 2003. The decrease is due to a lower carrying base in intangible
assets during 2004. Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets as of March 31, 2004 for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows (all amounts are in thousands): 2004: $1,100, 2005: $1,100, 2006: $950, 2007: $400, 2008: $130.



Interest and Other Income (Expense)



Interest and other income for the three months ended March 31, 2004
decreased to $0.1 million from $0.2 million for the same period in 2003. The decrease is primarily due to lower average investment returns in 2004 compared to 2003.



Risk Factors



We may be required to bring litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, which may result in substantial expense.



We rely on patents to protect our intellectual property rights. The strength
of this protection, however, is uncertain. In particular, it is not certain that:



| |  | our patents and pending patent applications use technology that we invented first;
| | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  | we were the first to file patent applications for these inventions;
| | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------



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|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  | others will not independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate our technologies;
| | - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  | any of our pending patent applications will result in issued patents; or
| | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  | any patents issued to us will provide a basis for commercially viable products, will provide us with any competitive advantages or will not face third party challenges or be the
subject of further proceedings limiting their scope.
| | - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



We may become involved in interference proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine the priority of our inventions. We could also become involved in opposition proceedings in foreign countries challenging the validity of
our patents. In addition, costly litigation could be necessary to protect our patent position. Patent law relating to the scope of claims in the technology fields in which we operate is still evolving and, consequently, patent positions in our
industry are generally uncertain. We may not prevail in any lawsuit or, if we do prevail, we may not receive commercially valuable remedies. Failure or inability to protect our patent rights or intellectual property could harm us.



We also rely on trade secrets, unpatented proprietary know-how and continuing
technological innovation that we seek to protect with confidentiality agreements with employees, consultants and others with whom we discuss our business. These individuals may breach our confidentiality agreements and our remedies may not be
adequate to enforce these agreements. Disputes may arise concerning the ownership of intellectual property or the applicability or enforceability of these agreements, and we may not be able to resolve these disputes in our favor. Furthermore, our
competitors may independently develop trade secrets and proprietary technology similar to ours. We may not be able to maintain the confidentiality of information relating to our products.



Our products could infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to engage in costly litigation and, if we are
not successful, could cause us to pay substantial damages and prohibit us from selling our products.



Third parties may assert patent, trademark or copyright infringement or other intellectual property claims against us based on their patents or other
intellectual property. We may be required to pay substantial damages (including treble damages) for past infringement if it is ultimately determined that our products infringe a third partys intellectual property rights. Even if infringement
claims against us are without merit, defending a lawsuit takes significant time, is expensive and may divert managements attention from other business concerns. If we are not successful in a lawsuit, we may be unable to sell our products or
continue to sell our products until we obtain a license from the owner of the relevant technology or other intellectual property rights, which may not be available to us. Even if a license is available, it may require us to pay substantial
royalties.



If we are unsuccessful in appealing the adverse judgment we
received in connection with the Cytologix litigation, we may be forced to pay damages to Cytologix.



As discussed in more detail under Item 1. Legal Proceedings under Part II, we have been involved in litigation with Cytologix, Inc., pursuant to
which a jury determined that we infringed



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|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



certain Cytologix patents. We are currently facing an imminent injunction from further manufacture and sale of our first generation
BenchMark® and Discovery® instruments. This action does not apply to the
BenchMark® XT/LT and Discovery® XT instruments.



We intend to appeal the decision. However, our success cannot be guaranteed,
and, if we are ultimately unsuccessful in the litigation we may be forced to pay damages including royalties to Cytologix.



If our customers do not receive adequate third-party reimbursement, our products may not be accepted in the market.



In the United States, our products are primarily purchased by medical
institutions and laboratories that bill third-party payers such as government health administration authorities, private health coverage insurers, managed care organizations and other similar organizations. Our ability to earn sufficient returns on
our products will depend in part on the extent to which reimbursement for our products and related treatments will be available to our customers from third-party payers. Third-party payers are increasingly attempting to limit both the coverage and
the level of reimbursement of products to contain costs, and if they are successful, our ability to sustain revenue growth and profitably will be adversely affected.



If government funding is reduced, the ability of research centers to purchase our products may also be reduced.



Some of our products are sold to universities, research laboratories,
private foundations and other institutions where funding is dependent upon grants from government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health. Research funding by the government could be significantly reduced and could materially affect the
ability of many of our research customers to purchase our products.



If we
fail to develop or license new products, we may not be profitable in the future.



A large part of our future growth and profitability will be dependent on our ability to develop, introduce and market new instruments and reagents used in disease diagnosis and treatment selection. We depend, in part,
on the success of medical research done by others in developing new antibodies, nucleic acid probes and clinical diagnostic procedures that can be adapted for use in our systems. We may need to license some of these technologies. We may not be able
to enter into these licenses on terms that would allow us to economically develop and market new products. If this were to occur, our operating results would suffer.



We face intense competition and rapid technological change that could result in products that are superior to the products we are
developing.



We have numerous competitors in the United
States and abroad. These competitors may develop technologies and products that are more effective or less costly than our current or future products or that could render our technologies and products obsolete or noncompetitive. Many of these
competitors have greater experience and name recognition. If we are not able to compete effectively, our results would suffer.



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|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



We need to convince the medical community of the superiority of our product to be successful.



The use of automated systems to perform diagnostic tests in anatomical
pathology is relatively new. Historically, laboratory personnel have manually performed diagnostic tests that are now performed by our automated systems. Our ability to sell products is dependent on our ability to demonstrate to the medical
community the benefits of automated diagnostic testing using our products. The quality and price of our products compared to manual testing and to our competitors products will affect acceptance and sales of our products. If the medical
community is not receptive to our products, our results would suffer.



If we
fail to obtain or maintain necessary FDA clearances or approvals for a number of our products, or if clearances or approvals are delayed, we will be unable to commercially distribute and market our products in the United States.



Unless otherwise exempt, prior to marketing in the United States, medical
devices require approval or clearance. The process of obtaining approvals and clearances necessary to market clinical products can be time-consuming, expensive and uncertain. Clinical products that we may seek to introduce in the future may require
FDA approvals or clearances prior to commercial sale in the United States. We may experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful development, introduction and marketing of new clinical products. In addition, we cannot assure that
regulatory approval or clearances of any clinical products for which we seek such approvals or clearances will be granted by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities on a timely basis, if at all.



If we fail to comply with the FDAs Quality System regulations, our manufacturing
operations could be delayed, and our product sales and profitability could suffer.



When manufacturing our medical devices, including Analyte Specific Reagents, we are required to adhere to Quality System regulations, which require that we manufacture our products and maintain records in a prescribed
manner. We are subject to future FDA Quality System inspections and we cannot assure you that we will pass these inspections or maintain compliance.



CLIA regulations could harm our business by limiting the potential market for our products.



Any of the customers using our products for clinical use in the United States may be regulated under the Clinical Laboratory
Improvement Act (CLIA). CLIA is intended to ensure the quality and reliability of clinical laboratories in the United States by mandating specific standards in the areas of personnel qualification, administration, proficiency testing, patient test
management, quality control, quality assurance and inspections. The regulations promulgated under CLIA establish three levels of clinical tests, and the standards applicable to a clinical laboratory depend on the level of the tests it performs. CLIA
requirements may prevent some clinical laboratories from using our products. Therefore, CLIA regulations and future



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|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



administrative interpretations of CLIA could harm our business by limiting the potential market for our products.



Complying with international regulatory requirements is an expensive, time-consuming
process and approval is never certain.



Sales of our
products in the European Union (EU) are subject to strict regulatory requirements and approval is never certain. Effective December 7, 2003, all of our products had to be in compliance with the  In VitroDiagnostics Directive and
bear the CE mark before being imported for sale in the EU. The CE mark is a symbol indicating that the device conforms to the essential requirements of the applicable directive, and can be commercially distributed throughout the EU. The In VitroDiagnostic Directive also subjects our manufacturing facilities to compliance inspections, and requires design, manufacturing and quality process documentation and controls. Some of our products do not currently bear the CE mark. We cannot
assure you that the CE mark will be granted for all our products, or that regulatory review will not involve delays that would harm our ability to market and sell our products in the EU.



If we make future acquisitions, such acquisitions may not be profitable.



We may make additional acquisitions of complementary businesses, products or
technologies in the future. Acquisitions of companies, divisions of companies, or products entail numerous risks. We cannot assure that we will not incur problems in any future acquisitions, or that future acquisitions will increase our
profitability. We also cannot assure that we will realize value from any acquisitions that would justify the consideration paid.



We depend on key personnel to grow and sustain our business.



We are dependent upon the retention of principal members of our management, Board of Directors, scientific, technical, marketing and sales staffs and the
recruitment of additional personnel. Except as otherwise described in other sections, we do not have employment agreements with any of our executive officers and we do not maintain key person life insurance on any of our personnel. We
compete with other companies, academic institutions, government entities and other organizations for qualified personnel. Our inability to hire or retain qualified personnel could cause our results of operations to suffer.



If we have problems with key suppliers, our product development and commercialization
efforts could be delayed or stopped.



Our reagent products
are formulated from chemical and biological materials using proprietary technology, and standard processing techniques. We purchase components and raw materials used to make our reagent products from single-source vendors. We cannot assure you that
the materials or reagents will be available in commercial quantities or at acceptable prices. Any supply interruption or yield problems encountered in the use of materials from these vendors could have a significant effect on our ability to
manufacture our products. Developing alternative or additional suppliers could be time consuming and expensive.



A number of components used to manufacture instruments are made on a custom basis to our specifications and are available from a limited number of
sources. If the supply of materials



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|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Annalysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



or components from any of these vendors were delayed or interrupted for any reason, or if the quality or reliability of the materials or
components is not adequate for use in our instruments, our ability to make instruments in a timely fashion could be impaired and our results of operations would suffer.



We may be held liable for any inaccuracies associated with analysis tests performed using our products, which may require us to defend
ourselves in costly litigation.



We may be subject to
claims resulting from incorrect results of tests performed using our products. Litigation of these claims can be costly, and we may be forced to expend significant funds during any litigation proceeding brought against us. Further, if a court were
to require us to pay damages to a plaintiff in excess of our insurance coverage, then our financial condition may be harmed.



We deal with hazardous materials and generate hazardous wastes and must comply with environmental laws and regulations, which can be expensive and restrict how we do
business. We could also be liable for damages or penalties, if we are involved in a hazardous material or waste spill or other accident.



Our manufacturing processes, primarily those involved in producing some of our reagent products, require the use of potentially hazardous and carcinogenic
chemicals. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and waste. In the event of a hazardous material or waste spill or other accident, we could
also be liable for damages or penalties. In addition, we may be liable or potentially liable for injury or contamination that results from our own, or a third partys, use of these materials, and our liability could exceed our total assets.



We cannot assure that we will be able to fund our future capital
requirements through internal sources or from other sources.



We anticipate that our existing capital resources and borrowing capacity will be adequate to satisfy our capital requirements for the next 12 months. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors including:



| |  | the extent that our products gain market acceptance;
| | - | ----------------------------------------------------



| |  | the mix of instruments placed through direct sales, rental or through our PEP program;
| | - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  | the progression of our product development programs;
| | - | ----------------------------------------------------



| |  | competing technological and market developments;
| | - | ------------------------------------------------



| |  | expansion of our sales and marketing activities;
| | - | ------------------------------------------------



| |  | the cost of manufacturing scale-up activities;
| | - | ----------------------------------------------



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|Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Annalysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
|------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  | possible acquisitions of complementary businesses, products or technologies; and
| | - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  | our ability to sustain profitability with the uncertain timing of regulatory approvals.
| | - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



We may require additional capital resources and cannot assure that capital will be available to the extent required, on
terms acceptable to us, or at all. Any such future capital requirements could result in the issuance of equity securities, which may affect the market price of our common stock and would dilute the interests of our existing stockholders.



Liquidity and Capital Resources



Cash and cash equivalents was $11.8 million at March 31, 2004. We have
funded our capital requirements since inception through sales of equity securities, debt financing and cash flows from operations. Net cash provided by operating activities was $7.3 million and $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004
and 2003, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities exceeded net income in 2004 primarily due to the effect of depreciation and amortization and decreases in operating assets.



We use cash in our investing activities primarily to fund investments in
property and equipment and in 2004 to purchase short-term investments. Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $8.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively. At March 31, 2004, we have $25.1 million
in short-term investments that primarily consist of corporate and various government agency debt securities. We classify these short-term investments as available-for-sale.



Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $6.6 million compared to net cash
provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2003 of $275,000. The increase in cash used in financing activities consisted primarily of our stock repurchases net of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and employee
stock purchases.



We had a $12 million line of credit
arrangement with a bank, which we canceled effective March 31, 2004.



We believe that our cash flow from operations together with our current cash reserves will be sufficient to fund our projected capital requirements through 2004. In the event that additional capital is required, we will first access our
short-term investments. In the event that additional capital is required, we may seek to raise such capital through public or private equity or debt financings. Future capital funding transactions may result in dilution to current shareholders.



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|Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|------- | ----------------------------------------------------------



For quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk affecting Ventana, see Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. Our exposure to market risk has not changed materially since December 31, 2003.



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|Item 4. | Controls and Procedures
|------- | -----------------------



Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an
evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this
report (the Evaluation Date). Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded as of the Evaluation Date that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective such that the information
required to be disclosed in our SEC reports (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive
officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.



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PART IIOTHER INFORMATION



|Item 1. | Legal Proceedings
|------- | -----------------



In April 2004, Ventana was served with a new lawsuit from Cytologix Corporation, case no. 04-04-232, in the Wilmington, Delaware Federal District Court alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,541,261 B1. Cytologix alleges that the
manufacture, use and sale of Ventanas BenchMark®XT slide staining system infringes
the 261 patent. Ventana disputes all of these contentions and will defend itself vigorously. Cytologix has asked for an injunction, unspecified damages, and enhanced damages for willful infringement. Ventana has not yet responded to the
Complaint; the deadline for response is in May 2004.



CYTOLOGIX
v. VENTANA, Case No. 00-12231 REK, was filed in October 2000 in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Massachusetts. The Complaint claims, under state-law based unfair competition law, that Ventana misappropriated CytoLogixs trade secrets
related to individual slide heating and incorporated such secrets into our Discovery®and
BenchMark®instruments. CytoLogix seeks assignment of our patent applications relating to
individual slide heating claiming the idea, treble damages (unspecified amount) and an injunction against our further sales of Discovery®and BenchMark®instruments. In February
2002, CytoLogix filed a motion to amend their complaint to add the related claims of attempted monopolization and monopolization under the Sherman Act, and various Lanham Act violations. The amendment was allowed by the court. At trial in December
2003 on the trade secret issue, the jury determined that Ventana had not misappropriated any trade secrets (see related case no. 01-10178 REK discussions below). We have been informed that the outstanding issues of monopolization and Lanham Act
violations will not be addressed by the Court until after an Appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has been heard and decided.



CYTOLOGIX v. VENTANA, Case No. 01-10178 REK, was filed in January 2001 in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Massachusetts. This Complaint
claims that we infringed on CytoLogixs U.S. Patent No. 6,180,061, entitled Moving Platform Slide Stainer with Heating Elements, and the Complaint was later amended to add U.S. Patent No. 6,183,693, issued in February 2001, entitled
Random Access Slide Stainer with Independent Slide Heating Regulation, both assigned to CytoLogix. CytoLogix seeks assignment of our patent applications claiming the independent slide heater idea, treble damages for willful infringement
(unspecified amount) and an injunction against our further manufacture and sale of Discovery®and BenchMark®instruments.



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|Item 1. | Legal Proceedings (continued)
|------- | -----------------------------



At the December 2003 conclusion of the trial on the issues of patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation, the jury found Ventana liable on the
two patent cases (no willful infringement), and not liable on the trade secret issue. Ventana filed post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law and a new trial. A hearing for a permanent injunction occurred in February 2004. At the hearing,
the Judge ruled on several issues, including denying the parties post-trial motions and framing the scope of the injunction. The form of the permanent injunction was filed with the court in April 2004, and will, assuming it is entered in its
present form, prohibit Ventana from making and selling the Benchmark®/Discovery®systems, but will not prohibit their continued use by
customers, and will not prohibit Ventana from supplying reagents to customers. Hearings on the issues of patent damages and antitrust-related claims will not be scheduled until the conclusion of our appeal to the Federal Circuit on claim
construction issues, likely to be decided in midyear 2005.



In
March 2003, Ventana was served with a Summons and Complaint by Vision Biosystems, Ltd. (Vision) for a Declaratory Judgment seeking a declaration of no infringement and invalidity of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,355,439 and 6,352,861, both owned by
Ventana, in the U.S. Federal Court for the Eastern District of Massachusetts. The Complaint alleges that Ventana has asserted that Visions BONDsystem infringes both of the aforementioned patents, and Vision has a reasonable apprehension of being sued. In May 2003, Ventana filed its Answer to the Vision Complaint in the
Massachusetts action and the parties are currently conducting discovery. In November 2003, Vision filed a motion for Summary Judgment of non-infringement of the 861 patent. In November 2003, Ventana filed a motion to amend our Answer to add a
counterclaim for infringement of the 439 and 861 patents by the BOND system. In January 2004, Ventana filed its opposition to Visions Summary Judgment motion, and filed its own cross-motion for Summary Judgment of infringement. A
hearing on both Summary Judgment motions has been re-scheduled in May 2004.



In November 2001, a patent infringement claim was filed against us titled DIGENE CORPORATION v. VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., (Case No. 01-752) in Delaware Federal District Court. This Complaint alleges that we
infringe two U.S. patents held by Digene, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,849,331 and 4,849,332 by commercial activities relating to our INFORM®HPV High-risk and Low-risk probe products. We filed an Answer denying the allegations in February 2002. The parties have filed cross-motions for Summary Judgment. In addition, in November 2002, Digene
filed a motion to amend its Complaint to add numerous causes of action related to our September 2002 acquisition of Beckman Coulters (Beckman) HPV business, and to add Beckman as a party. Digene seeks, among other remedies, an
injunction against the sale of our INFORM products, unspecified monetary damages, cancellation of the Beckman HPV acquisition, and related claims. Several motions were filed by the parties, one of them being a motion to compel arbitration by Beckman
and Ventana. In May 2003, the judge ordered that further discovery be taken on the issues of arbitrability. In January 2004, the court held a hearing on the arbitrability issue. The parties are awaiting a decision. In March 2004, the Judge dismissed
without prejudice all of the pending motions in the case, without comment.



In June 2003, Ventana and Beckman filed a request for arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, France to contest the purported termination by Institut Pasteur of the Sublicense Agreement
acquired by Ventana from Beckman in September 2002. Institut Pasteur has responded, and the parties have selected a panel of arbitrators. In December 2003, the panel framed the Terms of Reference, the issues to be heard in the case. In February
2004, Ventana submitted its statement of claim. Institut Pasteur has filed a motion to stay the



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|Item 1. | Legal Proceedings (continued)
|------- | -----------------------------



arbitration pending the outcome of the Delaware patent litigation, and an oral hearing is scheduled in May 2004.



In February 2003, we filed a Complaint in Arizona Federal District Court
against BioGenex Laboratories, Inc. (BioGenex), for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,352,861 (Automated Biological Reaction Apparatus). In September 2003, BioGenex served its Answer to the Complaint denying infringement. In
September 2003, BioGenex amended its Answer to Ventanas Complaint adding the defense of invalidity. The parties are currently conducting discovery.



In August 2003, a patent infringement claim was filed against Ventana entitled BIOGENEX LABORATORIES, INC., v. VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., in the
United States District Court for the District Court Northern California, San Jose Division (Case No. C03 03913 JF). This Complaint alleges that Ventana infringes three US patents held by BioGenex, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,578,452, 5,244,787 and 6,451,551.
BioGenex seeks, among other remedies, an injunction against our alleged infringement and unspecified monetary damages. Ventana filed its Answer in October 2003. The parties are currently conducting discovery, and there is a court-ordered mediation
scheduled in April 2004.



In July 2003, Ventana filed a patent
infringement action against Abbott Laboratories, Inc., and its subsidiary Vysis, Inc., for patent infringement in the Federal Court in Chicago, Illinois alleging that various Vysis DNA probe products infringe U.S. Patent No. 6,025,126 (Methods
and Compositions for the Detection of Chromosomal Aberrations) and U.S. Patent No. 6,414,133 (Multiple Fusion Probes). In particular, Ventana alleges that sales of the BCR/ABL probes, amongst others, sold by Vysis infringe one or
both of the patents. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has declared Interferences between both patents and a University of California patent application, Gray et al., Interference No. 105,207. In addition, the Court granted a joint motion to stay
the litigation in April 2004.



We record contingent liabilities
resulting from claims against us when it is probable (as that word is defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5) that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. We disclose contingent
liabilities when there is a reasonable possibility that the ultimate loss will exceed the recorded liability. Estimating probable losses requires analysis of multiple factors, in some cases including judgments about the potential actions of third
party claimants and courts. Therefore, actual losses in any future period are inherently uncertain. In all of the cases noted where we are the defendant, we believe, after conferring with legal counsel, that we have meritorious defenses to the
claims in these actions and that resolution of these matters, both individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation; however, the results of the proceedings are
uncertain and there can be no assurance to that effect.



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|Item 6. | Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
|------- | --------------------------------



| | (a) | Exhibits
| | --- | --------



See Exhibits Index



| | (b) | Reports on Form 8-K.
| | --- | --------------------



On February 20, 2004, the Company filed a current report on Form 8-K to furnish the Companys press release reporting preliminary results for the
year ended December 31, 2003. In accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216, the information, intended to be furnished under Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition, was instead furnished under Item 9. Regulation FD
Disclosure.



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SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



|                  |  |  |  |                               |  |                        |  |                                                             
|----------------- |  |  |  | ----------------------------- |  | ---------------------- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------
|                  |  |  |  | Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
|                  |  |  | 
|Date: May 4, 2004 |  |  |  | By:                           |  | /s/    Nicholas Malden
|                  |  |  |  |                               |  |                        | 
|                  |  |  |  |                               |  |                        |  | Nicholas Malden                                             
|                  |  |  |  |                               |  |                        |  | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary



25



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##### Table of Contents

EXHIBITS



|              |  |                                                                        |  |        
|------------- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | -------
|ExhibitNumber |  | Description                                                            |  | Notes  
|              |  |                                                                       
|3.1           |  | Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Registrant                    |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|3.2           |  | Bylaws of Registrant                                                   |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|4.1           |  | Specimen Common Stock Certificate                                      |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|10.1          |  | Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers           |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|10.2          |  | 1988 Stock Option Plan and forms of agreements thereunder              |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|10.3          |  | 1996 Stock Option Plan and forms of agreements thereunder              |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|10.4          |  | 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                      |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|10.5          |  | 1996 Directors Option Plan                                             |  | (1)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|10.6          |  | 1998 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan and forms of agreements thereunder |  | (2),(3)
|              |  |                                                                       
|10.7          |  | 2001 Outside Director Stock Option Plan                                |  | (4)    
|              |  |                                                                       
|31.1          |  | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer      |  |        
|              |  |                                                                       
|31.2          |  | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer      |  |        
|              |  |                                                                       
|32.1          |  | Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer                 |  |        
|              |  |                                                                       
|32.2          |  | Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Financial Officer                 |  |        



|(1) | Filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-l (Commission File No. 333-4461), declared effective by the Commission July 26, 1996.
|--- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(2) | Filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Commission File No. 333-92883), filed with the Commission on December 16, 1999.
|--- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(3) | Form of 1998 Nonstatuatory Stock Option Plan, as amended, agreements filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Commission File No. 333-105976), on June 10, 2003.
|--- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(4) | Filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Commission File No. 333-69658), filed with the Commission on September 19, 2001.
|--- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------