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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003

Commission File Number 000-30833

BRUKER BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        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 ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

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

        The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2003 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $60.4 million, based on the reported last sale price on the Nasdaq National Market on that date. This amount excludes an aggregate of 43.3 million shares of common stock held by officers and directors and each person known by the registrant to own 10% or more of the outstanding common stock of the registrant as of June 30, 2003. Exclusion of shares held by any person should not be construed to indicate that such person possesses the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of the registrant, or that such person is controlled by or under common control with the registrant. The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of March 1, 2004 was 86,005,843. This number does not include 457,200 shares held by the registrant in treasury.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        The information required by Part III of this report (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) is incorporated by reference from Bruker BioSciences Corporation's definitive Proxy Statement for its 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

BRUKER BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
Annual Report on Form 10-K
Table of Contents

        Any statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "seeks," "estimates," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's reorganization strategies, integration risks, failure of conditions, technological approaches, product development, market acceptance, cost and pricing of the Company's products, changes in governmental regulations, capital spending and government funding policies, FDA and other regulatory approvals to the extent applicable, competition, the intellectual property of others, patent protection and litigation and other factors, many of which are described in more detail in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading "Factors Affecting Our Business, Operating Results and Financial Condition" and from time to time in other filings we may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if the company's estimates change, and readers should not rely on those forward-looking statements as representing the company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the filing of this report.

        References to "we," "us," "our," the "Company" or "Bruker BioSciences" refer to Bruker BioSciences Corporation and, in some cases, its subsidiaries, as well as all predecessor entities.

        Our principal executive offices are located at 40 Manning Road, Billerica, MA 01821, and our telephone number is (978) 663-3660. Information about Bruker BioSciences is available at www.bruker-biosciences.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into and does not form a part of this report. All trademarks, trade names or copyrights referred to in this report are the property of their respective owners.

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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

        We design and market products to address the rapidly evolving needs of the life science industry, and we are the publicly traded parent company of both Bruker Daltonics Inc. and Bruker AXS Inc. Bruker Daltonics is a leading developer and provider of innovative life science tools based on mass spectrometry and also develops and provides a broad range of field analytical systems for nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) detection. Bruker AXS is a leading developer and provider of life science and advanced materials research tools based on X-ray technology.

        We were incorporated in Massachusetts as Bruker Federal Systems Corporation. In February 2000, we reincorporated in Delaware as Bruker Daltonics Inc. In July 2003, we merged with Bruker AXS Inc., a company under common control, and we were the surviving corporation in that merger. In connection with the merger, we changed our name to Bruker BioSciences Corporation and formed two operating subsidiaries, Bruker Daltonics and Bruker AXS, into which we transferred substantially all of the assets and liabilities, except cash, which formerly belonged to us and Bruker AXS. As a result of the merger, we have two reportable operating segments: Bruker Daltonics and Bruker AXS.

        Bruker Daltonics' mass spectrometers are sophisticated devices that measure the mass or weight of a molecule and can provide accurate information on the identity, quantity and primary structure of molecules. Our mass spectrometry-based solutions often combine advanced mass spectrometry instrumentation; automated sampling and sample preparation robots; reagent kits and other disposable products, called consumables, used in conducting tests, or assays; and powerful bioinformatics software. We offer mass spectrometry systems and integrated solutions for applications in multiple existing and emerging life-science markets including genomics, expression proteomics, clinical proteomics, metabolic and peptide biomarker profiling, drug discovery and development, molecular diagnostics research and molecular and systems biology, as well as basic molecular medicine research. Our substantial investment in research and development allows us to design, manufacture and market a broad array of products intended to meet the rapidly growing needs of our diverse customer base. Our customers include pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, proteomics companies, molecular diagnostics companies, academic institutions and government agencies. In addition, we market some of our life science systems through strategic distribution arrangements with Agilent Technologies, Sequenom and others. We are also a worldwide leader in supplying mass spectrometry-based and other systems for NBC detection in emergency response, homeland security and defense applications.

        Bruker AXS' X-ray systems are advanced instruments that use extremely short wavelengths of energy to determine the characteristics and composition of matter as well as the three-dimensional structure of molecules. Depending on the application, our X-ray systems utilize one of three core X-ray analysis methods: single crystal diffraction, known as SCD or X-ray crystallography; polycrystalline X-ray diffraction, known as XRD or X-ray diffraction; and X-ray fluorescence, known as XRF. Using our modular platforms, we often combine each of these three technology applications with sample preparation tools, automation, consumables and data analysis software. Our products, which have particular application in structural proteomics, drug discovery and materials and nanotechnology research fields, provide our customers with the ability to determine the three-dimensional structure of specific molecules, such as proteins, and to characterize and determine the properties and composition of materials. Our customers include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, nanotechnology companies, semiconductor companies, raw material manufacturers, chemical companies, academic institutions and other businesses involved in materials and structure analysis.

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Products

        Bruker BioSciences has determined that two of its subsidiaries are reportable operating segments: Bruker Daltonics and Bruker AXS.

Bruker Daltonics

Mass Spectrometry

        Bruker Daltonics has developed a suite of mass spectrometry instruments that address a wide range of life sciences applications. Mass spectrometry has become the method of choice for primary structure analysis, including the determination of amino acid sequence and post-translational modifications. Mass spectrometry is thus a key enabling technology of the expression proteomics laboratory. Mass spectrometers are also increasingly used for the discovery of peptide, protein or metabolite biomarkers and panels or patterns of biomarkers. These biomarkers can be used for toxicity screening or to assess drug efficacy in pre-clinical trials in pharmaceutical drug development. They are also used in clinical research and validation studies, at this time still for research use only, in an effort to develop the emerging field of protein molecular diagnostics.

        Mass spectrometers are devices for measuring the mass, or weight, of intact molecules and of fragments of molecules which can provide structural information on the molecule. Mass spectrometry systems employ an ionization source which creates charged molecules and a mass separation/detection component that separates these charged molecules on the basis of mass to detect their presence and quantity. Mass spectrometry has been used in physics and chemistry for over fifty years. Over the past fifteen years, mass spectrometry has emerged as a powerful research tool in the life sciences. For example, mass spectrometers can determine the identity, amount, structure, sequence and other biological properties of small molecules, like drug candidates and metabolites, as well as large biomolecules, like proteins and DNA. Sales of life-science mass spectrometry systems contributed revenue of $104.9 million, $81.4 million and $67.6 million in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        Bruker Daltonics' life science solutions are based on the following four core mass spectrometry technology platforms:

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MALDI-TOF—Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, including tandem time-of-flight systems (MALDI-TOF/TOF);



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ESI-TOF—Electrospray ionization time-of-flight spectrometry, including tandem mass spectrometry systems based on ESI-quadrupole-TOF mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-q-TOF);



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FTMS—Fourier transform mass spectrometry, including hybrid systems with a quadrupole front end (Q-q-FTMS); and



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ITMS—Ion trap mass spectrometry.

        Time-of-flight spectrometers measure mass based on the time it takes for charged molecules to travel from the ionization source to the detection component. With the ability to analyze as many as 100,000 samples per day, these mass spectrometers currently have the highest sample throughput and can analyze the broadest range of masses of any mass spectrometer for use in the fields of genomics and proteomics. Our time-of-flight mass spectrometry solutions make full use of this potential for increased speed by automating various steps of the analysis. Our-time-of-flight solutions combine high sensitivity, accuracy and throughput to generate large volumes of accurate raw data for detection of genetic variations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, as well as for peptide analysis and proteomics in general.

        MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers utilize an ionization process to analyze solid samples using a laser that combines high sample throughput with high mass range and excellent sensitivity. Our

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MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers are useful for: (a) SNP analysis; (b) protein identification; (c) peptide de novo sequencing; (d) determination of post-translational modifications of proteins; (e) interaction proteomics and protein function analysis; (f) drug discovery and development; and (g) fast body fluid and tissue biomarker detection. We offer the following MALDI-TOF instruments:

        These products utilize our AnchorChip microarrays that prepare samples for analysis. These microarrays employ patented microfluidics technology that improves sensitivity and reduces analysis time per sample by concentrating, or "anchoring", the sample in a precisely defined location.

        ESI-TOF mass spectrometers utilize an ionization process to analyze liquid samples. This gentle ionization process, which does not dissociate the molecules, allows for rapid data acquisition and analysis of large biological molecules. ESI-TOF mass spectrometers are useful for: (a) identification, protein analysis and functional complex analysis in proteomics and protein function; (b) molecular identification in metabonomics, natural product and drug metabolite analysis; (c) combinatorial

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chemistry high throughput screening, or HTS; and (d) fast liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, or LC/MS, in drug discovery and development. We offer the following ESI-TOF instruments:

        FTMS systems utilize high-field superconducting magnets to offer the highest resolution, selectivity, and mass accuracy currently achievable in mass spectrometry. Our systems based on this technology often eliminate the need for time-consuming separation techniques in complex mixture analyses. In addition, our systems can fragment molecular ions to perform exact mass analysis on all fragments to determine molecular structure. FTMS systems are useful for: (a) the study of structure and function of biomolecules including proteins, DNA and natural products; (b) complex mixture analysis including body fluids or combinatorial libraries; (c) high throughput proteomics and metabonomics; and (d) top-down proteomics of intact proteins without the need for enzymatic digestion of the proteins prior to analysis. Since 2003, we have offered next-generation hybrid FTMS systems which combine a traditional external quadrupole mass selector and hexapole collision cell, with a high-performance

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FTMS for further ion dissociation, top-down proteomics tools, and ultra-high resolution detection. We offer the following FTMS systems:

        ITMS systems measure all ions simultaneously which improves sensitivity relative to older quadrupole mass spectrometers. Ion trap mass spectrometers are useful for: (a) sequencing and identification based on peptide structural analysis; (b) quantitative liquid chromatography mass spectrometry; (c) identification of combinatorial libraries; and (d) generally enhancing the speed and efficiency of the drug discovery and development process. We offer the following ITMS systems:

        Solutions packages and sample preparation robots are designed to enhance throughput of genomics, proteomics and metabonomics analysis. Sales of Bruker Daltonics solutions packages and

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sample preparation robots are included in sales of our four mass spectrometry platforms, as well as partly in our aftermarket business (see Aftermarket). We offer the following solution packages:

Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Detection

        We sell a wide range of portable analytical and bioanalytical detection systems and related products for NBC detection. Our customers use these devices for nuclear, biological agent and chemical agent defense applications, anti-terrorism, law enforcement and process and facilities monitoring. Our NBC detection products use many of the same technology platforms as our life sciences products, as well as some completely different technologies, such as infrared remote detection, or ion mobility spectrometry for handheld chemical detectors. For example, we developed our esquire products using the same ion trap technology used in our chemical and biological mass spectrometers. We also provide integrated, comprehensive detection suites which include our multiple detection systems, consumables, training and simulators. Sales of NBC detection systems contributed revenue of

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$12.9 million, $17.6 million and $9.0 million in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Our related products, all of which were introduced prior to 2004, include:

Bruker Daltonics' Aftermarket

        In addition to new systems sales, Bruker Daltonics generates revenue from consumables, automation and separation products, training and services, and bioinformatics and software. Bruker Daltonics aftermarket sales contributed revenue of $27.6 million, $17.0 million and $15.1 million in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        Consumables provide an increasing recurring revenue stream as our installed systems base grows. We sell consumables for processing, purifying and preparing samples prior to mass spectrometric analyses as well as consumables for collecting samples for NBC detection.

        Following our standard twelve-month warranty, we also generate service revenues from our customers through service contracts, repair calls, training and other support services. Service revenue is generated either through post-warranty service contracts or on-demand service calls. The number of customers entering into service contracts varies by geographic region. Additionally, for Bruker Daltonics' NBC detection systems, we have developed training products, including complete system simulator installations.

        In addition to providing service, consumables and replacement parts, we generate recurring revenue through the sale to our customers of a variety of accessory items. Among other things, we have introduced automated control software to integrate separation devices and robotics into our solutions, we provide bioinformatics software to generate useable information from large volumes of raw data, and we offer intuitive data acquisition and analysis software on a Windows NT platform to make our systems accessible to non-experts. Finally, we provide system upgrades to customers who desire to upgrade, rather than replace, older systems.

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Bruker AXS

Analytical X-ray

        Bruker AXS' X-ray systems integrate powerful detectors with advanced X-ray sources, computer-controlled positioning systems, sample handling devices and data collection and analysis software to acquire, analyze and manage elemental and molecular information. These integrated solutions address many of the matter characterization and structure needs of the life science, pharmaceutical, raw material and research industries across a broad range of applications. We provide high speed, sensitive systems for a variety of areas, including three-dimensional structure determination, protein crystal screening and molecular structure determination for the emerging structural proteomics market as well as the small molecule drug discovery market. Additionally, we provide high-speed, automated systems for elemental analysis as well as high throughput, cost-effective systems for other areas, including combinatorial screening. We also sell other systems such as thermal analyzers. Sales of analytical X-ray and other systems contributed revenue of $79.7 million, $78.8 million and $60.4 million in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        Bruker AXS' systems are based on the following three core X-ray technology applications:

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SCD—Single crystal X-ray diffraction, often referred to as X-ray crystallography;



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XRD—Polycrystalline X-ray diffraction, often referred to using the term X-ray diffraction; and



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XRF—X-ray fluorescence, also called X-ray spectrometry.

        SCD systems determine the three-dimensional structures of molecules in the chemical, mineral or biological substance being studied. SCD systems have the capability to determine structure in both small chemical molecules and larger biomolecules. SCD systems direct an X-ray beam at a solid, single crystal sample. The atoms in the crystal sample scatter the X-rays to create a precise diffraction pattern recorded by an electronic detector. Software then reconstructs a model of the structure and provides the unique arrangement of the atoms in the sample. This information on the exact arrangement of atoms in the sample is a critical part of molecular analysis and can provide insight into a variety of areas, including how a protein functions or interacts with a second molecule. Our SCD systems combine high sensitivity and rapid data collection to quickly generate accurate structures for use in the life sciences industry, academic research and a variety of other applications. We offer the following SCD systems:

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        XRD systems direct single wavelength X-rays at a polycrystalline sample. The atoms in the polycrystalline sample scatter the X-rays to create a unique diffraction pattern recorded by a detector. Computer software processes the pattern and produces many different types of information, including stress, texture, qualitative and quantitative phase composition, crystallite size, percent crystallinity and layer thickness, composition, defects and density of thin films and semiconductor material. Our XRD systems combine modular, high precision and high quality ergonomic designs with broad applications for use in basic research and industrial process control. They contribute to a reduction in the

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development cycles for new products in the catalyst, polymer, electronic, optical material and semiconductor industries. Customers also use our XRD systems for analyses in a variety of other fields, including forensics, art and archaeology. We offer the following XRD systems:

        XRF systems determine the elemental composition of a material and provide a full qualitative and quantitative analysis. These systems direct X-rays at a sample, and the atoms in the sample absorb the X-ray energy. The elements in the sample then emit characteristic X-rays which are unique for each element. The system collects the X-rays, and its software analyzes the resulting data to determine the elements which are present. Our XRF products provide complete analysis automation solutions on a turn-key basis in response to the industrial marketplace demand for automated, controlled production processes that reduce product and process cost, increase output and improve product quality. Our XRF products cover substantially all of the periodic table and can analyze solid, powder or liquid samples. In addition, our XRF products require minimal sample preparation. We offer the following XRF systems:

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Bruker AXS' Aftermarket

        In addition to new system sales, Bruker AXS generates revenues from sales of service, consumables and related products. Bruker AXS aftermarket sales contributed revenue of $34.2 million, $25.5 million and $22.2 million in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. We believe our high-quality customer service gives us a competitive advantage by enhancing the Bruker AXS brand and customer loyalty.

        Given the demands our products face in the field, general maintenance and replacement of consumables such as X-ray tubes and other parts is routine. We supply a large quantity of replacement X-ray tubes to customers over the lives of our systems. Following our standard twelve-month warranty, we also generate service revenues from our customers through service contracts, repair calls, training and other support services. Service revenue is generated either through post-warranty service contracts or on-demand service calls. The number of customers entering into service contracts varies by geographic region.

        In addition to providing service, consumables and replacement parts, we generate recurring revenue through the sale to our customers of a variety of accessory items, including sample handling devices, temperature and pressure control devices, enhanced X-ray optics and software packages. Finally, we provide system upgrades to customers who desire to upgrade, rather than replace, older systems.

Research and Development

        We commit substantial capital and resources to internal and collaborative research and development in order to provide innovative solutions to our customers. Within Bruker BioSciences, we conduct research primarily to enhance the reliability and performance of existing products and to develop new products. We expensed $38.0 million, $30.6 million, and $26.2 million in 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively, for research and development purposes.

        Our research and development is conducted in the relevant product groups within the Bruker Daltonics and Bruker AXS businesses as well as in collaboration with one another on common topics such as microfluidics, automation and workflow management software.

        Bruker Daltonics maintains technical competencies in core mass spectrometry technologies and capabilities, including MALDI and ESI ion sources; TOF, TOF/TOF, and MS analyzers; microfluidics; automation; and software. Recent projects included:

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developing new MALDI and ESI ion sources to solve sensitivity, ease of use and throughput constraints;



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improving and coupling mass analyzers for more detailed protein characterization;



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improving our microfluidics technology to achieve greater sensitivity in MALDI analyses;



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creating more automated solutions for specific proteomics and metabonomics applications; and



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developing new software solutions to improve ease of use and data quality.

        The research is primarily conducted at our facilities in Billerica, MA, U.S.A., Bremen, Germany, and Leipzig, Germany. Bruker Daltonics accepts some sponsored research contracts from external agencies such as government or private sources. Historically, we have been the recipient of significant government grants from the German government for various projects for early-stage research and development. We have generally retained at least non-exclusive rights to any items or improvements we develop under these grants. The German government requires that we use and market technology developed under grants in order to retain our rights to the technology. In 2003, 2002, and 2001, we

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received government-sponsored research and development grants in the aggregate amounts of $1.3 million, $0.2 million, and $0.9 million.

        Bruker AXS maintains technical competencies in core X-ray technologies and capabilities, including detectors used to sense X-ray diffraction patterns; X-ray sources and optics that generate and focus the X-rays; robotics and sample handling equipment which hold and manipulate the experimental material; and software that generates the structural data. Recent projects included:

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refining next generation high brilliancy optics and microsources;



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developing new X-ray sources for X-ray diffraction and protein crystallography applications;



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creating a high sensitivity area detector system; and



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developing other solution-based technologies and software application solutions.

        Bruker AXS accepts some sponsored research contracts, mainly from private sources. The research is primarily conducted at our facilities in Madison, WI, U.S.A., Karlsruhe, Germany, Delft, the Netherlands, and Yokohama, Japan.

Customers

        We have a broad and diversified global life and materials science customer base. Our life science customer base is composed primarily of end-users and includes pharmaceutical, biotechnology, proteomics, agricultural biotechnology, molecular diagnostics and fine chemical companies, as well as commercial laboratories, university laboratories, medical schools and other not-for profit research institutes and government laboratories. We sell our X-ray materials research products to the above customer groups as well as to a number of semiconductor, polymer, automotive, cement, steel, aluminum and combinatorial materials design companies. Our customers generally do not have a need to buy numerous systems at one time, and historically we have not depended on any single customer in the sale of our systems. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of revenue in any of the last three fiscal years.

Sales and Marketing

        We maintain direct sales forces throughout most of North America, the European Union, and Japan. We have well equipped application and demonstration facilities and qualified application personnel who assist customers and provide product demonstrations in specific application areas. We maintain our primary demonstration facilities at our production facilities as well as in key markets elsewhere.

        We also utilize indirect sales channels to reach customers. We have various international distributors and independent sales representatives, including affiliated companies and various representatives in parts of Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. These distributors provide coverage in areas where we do not have direct sales personnel. In addition, we have adopted a distribution business model where we engage in strategic distribution alliances with other companies to address certain market segments. Bruker Daltonics maintains primary distribution alliances with Agilent and Sequenom. As part of its strategic alliance with Agilent, Bruker Daltonics manufactures an ion trap mass spectrometer which Agilent incorporates into its liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems for distribution into various industrial markets. Through Sequenom, Bruker Daltonics sells high throughput and medium throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers into emerging industrial and clinical genomics markets for high throughput and medium throughput DNA and SNP analysis. Additionally, Bruker AXS is the worldwide distributor for Discovery Partners' Crystal Farm line of protein crystallography products. The Crystal Farm is combined with Bruker AXS' PROTEUM X-ray system, MICROSTAR X-ray source and BruNo robotic sample handler to create a complete system to produce and evaluate protein crystal structures.

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Sales Cycle

        Bruker Daltonics.    The typical time between Bruker Daltonics' first customer contact and its receipt of a customer's order for life science systems is three to six months for most product lines. However, this sales cycle can be in excess of a year when a customer must budget the product into an upcoming fiscal year. NBC detection products can have multi-year sales cycles for large production contracts.

        Bruker AXS.    The typical sales cycle for Bruker AXS' products is six to twenty-four months. The sales cycle is twelve to twenty-four months for academic products and six to twelve months for industrial products. The length of Bruker AXS' sales cycles is primarily dependent on the budgeting cycles of its customers.

Intellectual Property

        Our intellectual property consists of patents, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how and trademarks. Protection of our intellectual property is a strategic priority for each segment of our business because of the length of time and expense associated with bringing new products through the development process and to the marketplace. We have a substantial patent portfolio, and we intend to file additional patent applications as appropriate. We believe our owned and licensed patent portfolio provides us with a competitive advantage. This portfolio permits us to maintain access to a number of key technologies. We license our owned patent rights where appropriate. We intend to enforce our patent rights against infringers if necessary.

        The patent positions of life sciences tools companies involve complex legal and factual questions. As a result, we cannot predict the enforceability of our patents with certainty. In addition, we are aware of the existence from time to time of patents in certain countries which, if valid, could impair our ability to manufacture and sell products in these countries.

        Bruker Daltonics is a party to an agreement dated as of August 10, 1998 with Indiana University's Advanced Research and Technology Institute (IU-ARTI), which is the technology transfer arm of Indiana University, pursuant to which we have been granted an exclusive license to specified patent rights and products including three patents that relate to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We pay IU-ARTI royalties under this agreement and have agreed to allow IU-ARTI to utilize any improvements that we make to the licensed products for research and educational purposes on a non-exclusive, royalty-free basis. IU-ARTI may terminate the agreement if we default on our obligations or become bankrupt. We may terminate the agreement with six months notice. The license granted by the agreement expires at the later of August 10, 2008 or expiration of the licensed patent rights. In connection with a previous collaboration agreement between Bruker Daltonics and IU-ARTI, IU-ARTI has agreed to perform experiments for Bruker Daltonics, as requested, in exchange for a flat fee and a percentage fee of any sales of products developed for us by IU-ARTI.

        Bruker Daltonics is also a party to an agreement with Applied Biosystems Group, an Applera Corporation business, and IU-ARTI. The agreement is for the licensing of a portfolio of significant mass spectrometry patents. As part of the agreement, we have been appointed the exclusive agent for licensing this combined intellectual property to the life-science industry. These patent portfolios relate to MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and cover the significant technology called Space-Velocity Correlation Focusing (SVCF), or Delayed Extraction. This technology improves both accuracy and sensitivity, and is implemented in most modern MALDI-TOF systems. As licensing agent for IU-ARTI's SVCF patents, we have granted Applied Biosystems a sub-license in exchange for multi-year payments. Bruker Daltonics and Applied Biosystems also have cross-licensed each other on their respective patent portfolios related to this technology. In addition, as exclusive licensing agent, Bruker Daltonics has granted Waters Corporation a sub-license for a portfolio of these SVCF patents owned by Indiana

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University, Applied Biosystems and Bruker Daltonics, in exchange for a one-time technology access fee and multi-year payments.

        Bruker Daltonics had been involved in patent litigation with a competitor, Finnigan, a subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corporation, since December 31, 1996. In August 2001, we entered into a comprehensive settlement agreement for this litigation that provided for the dismissal of all pending suits, the waiving of all damages, and a framework of licensing and arbitration for potential future disputes between the companies in the field of ion trap mass spectrometry.

        We also rely upon trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, copyright protection and licensing to develop and maintain our competitive position. We generally require the execution of confidentiality agreements by our employees, consultants and other scientific advisors. These agreements provide that all confidential information made known during the course of a relationship with us will be held in confidence and used only for our benefit. In addition, these agreements provide that we own all inventions generated during the course of the relationship.

        Our management considers Bruker BioSciences, Bruker Daltonics, Daltonics, Bruker AXS, and AXS to be our material trademarks, all of which are registered in the U.S..

        We are a party to various government contracts. Under some of these government contracts, the government may receive license or similar rights to intellectual property developed under the contract. However, under government contracts we enter we generally receive no less than non-exclusive rights to any items or technologies we develop.

Government Contracts

        Although we transact business with various government agencies, we believe that no government contract is of such magnitude that a renegotiation of profits or termination of the contract or subcontracts at the election of the government would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial results.

Competition

        Our existing products and any products that we develop may compete in multiple, highly competitive markets. Many of our potential competitors in these markets have substantially greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. They may offer or succeed in developing products that could render our products or those of our strategic partners obsolete or noncompetitive. In addition, many of these competitors have significantly greater experience in the life sciences market. Our ability to compete successfully will depend on our ability to develop proprietary products that reach the market in a timely manner and are technologically superior to and/or are less expensive, or more cost effective, than other currently marketed products. Current competitors or other companies may possess or develop technologies and products that are more effective than ours. Our technologies and products may be rendered obsolete or uneconomical by technological advances or entirely different approaches developed by one or more of our competitors.

        Bruker Daltonics competes with a variety of companies that offer mass spectrometry-based systems along each of our product lines. Bruker Daltonics competitors in the life sciences area include Applied Biosystems, Amersham Biosciences, Waters, Thermo Electron (which includes Finnigan), Shimadzu/Kratos, Ciphergen, Hitachi, JEOL and various automation companies. Bruker Daltonics' NBC detection markets are highly fragmented, and we compete with a number of companies in this area. The most significant competitor is Smith Detection (UK).

        Bruker AXS competes with companies that offer analytical X-ray solutions. Bruker AXS primarily competes with Rigaku (a private Japanese company) and Panalytical (formerly a division of Philips, now a division of Spectris, a public U.K. company). Other competitors produce products based on

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some of the technology platforms that we utilize; however, none of them produce products utilizing all of our major technology platforms. Some of them have a greater market share than we have in particular technology platform areas.

        We also compete with other companies that provide analytical or automation tools based on other technologies. These technologies may prove to be more successful in meeting demands in the markets that our products serve. In addition, other companies may choose to enter our field in the future. We believe that the principal competitive factors in our markets are technology base applications expertise, product specifications and functionality, marketing expertise, distribution capability, proprietary patent portfolios, cost and cost effectiveness.

Manufacturing and Supplies

        Our manufacturing facilities are certified under ISO 9001, the most rigorous of the international quality standards. We manufacture and test our mass spectrometry and NBC detection products at our facilities in Billerica, MA, U.S.A., Bremen, Germany, and Leipzig, Germany. In addition, we manufacture and test our X-ray products at our facilities in Madison, WI, U.S.A., Karlsruhe, Germany, and Yokohama, Japan. Manufacturing processes at our facilities in Germany include all phases of manufacturing, including machining, fabrication, subassembly, system assembly, and final testing. All other facilities primarily perform high-level assembly, system integration, and final testing. We outsource the manufacturing of many major subassemblies. We believe outsourcing enables us to reduce fixed costs and capital expenditures while also providing us with the flexibility to increase production capacity. As part of a restructuring program initiated in the third quarter of 2003, we are presently phasing out production and final test at two smaller production sites in Switzerland and The Netherlands. We expect to complete such phase-out by the middle of 2004.

        We purchase material and components from various suppliers that are either standard products or built to our specifications. We obtain some of the components included in our products from a limited group of suppliers or from a single-source supplier for items such as CCD area detectors, X-ray tubes, magnets, ion traps, robotics and infrared optics, among other things. In 1998, Bruker AXS commenced collaboration with Fairchild Imaging, Inc. for the development of CCD area detectors for use in chemical and biological X-ray crystallography. While Fairchild Imaging owns the chip included in the detector, Bruker AXS has exclusive rights for use of the chip in the SCD and XRD fields, subject to minimum purchase requirements. Bruker AXS also owns the rights to the camera in which the chip is placed. Bruker AXS has an ongoing collaboration with the Siemens AG X-ray tube division (now Siemens Medical Solutions Vacuum Technology Division) in Germany for the development of X-ray tubes. Bruker AXS is also cooperating with Siemens for the supply of varying types of high power X-ray tubes. Additionally, Bruker AXS has a joint development with Siemens for a lower-power high performance XRF X-ray tube. Bruker AXS has the exclusive right to purchase these lower-power tubes, subject to minimum purchase requirements, until December 2006. Bruker Daltonics purchases approximately 90% of its magnets from a single supplier, Magnex, and also obtains certain key components for the manufacture of its ion traps from Agilent, the sole supplier of these components. In addition, Bruker Optics, an affiliated company, is the sole developer and supplier of certain infrared optics and electronics technology used in Bruker Daltonics' HAWK and RAPID NBC detection systems.

Government Regulation

        We are required to comply with federal, state, and local environmental protection regulations. We do not expect for such compliance to have a significant impact on our capital spending, earnings, or competitive position.

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        Bruker Daltonics possesses low-level radiation licenses for facilities in Billerica, MA, U.S.A., and Leipzig, Germany. Bruker AXS possesses low-level radiation materials licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for our facility in Madison, Wisconsin, from the local radiation safety authority, Gewerbeaufsichtsamt Karlsruhe, for our facility in Karlsruhe, Germany, from the local radiation safety authority, Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Miliuebeheer, for our facility in Delft, the Netherlands, and from the local radiation safety authority, Kanagawa Prefecture, for our facility in Yokohama, Japan, as well as from various other countries in which we sell our products. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission also has regulations concerning the exposure of our employees to radiation.

        Prior to introducing a product in the U.S., Bruker AXS provides notice to the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in the form of a Radiation Safety Abbreviated Report, which provides identification information and operating characteristics of the product. If the FDA finds that the report is complete, it provides us approval in the form of what is known as an accession number. We may not market a product until we have received an accession number. In addition, we submit an annual report to the FDA that includes, among other things, the radiation safety history of all products we sell in the U.S. We are required to report to the FDA incidents of accidental exposure to radiation arising from the manufacture, testing or use of any of our products. We also report to state governments products which we sell in their states. For sales in Germany, we register each system with the local authorities. In some countries where we sell systems, we use the license we obtained from the federal authorities in Germany to assist us in obtaining a license from the country in which the sale occurs. In addition, as indicated above, we are subject to various other foreign and domestic environmental, health and safety laws and regulations in connection with our operations. Apart from these areas, we are subject to the laws and regulations generally applicable to businesses in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

Working Capital Requirements

        To effectively operate our business, we are required to hold significant demonstration inventory and finished goods in-transit. We have well equipped application and demonstration facilities and qualified application personnel who assist customers and provide product demonstrations in specific application areas. We maintain our primary demonstration facilities at our production facilities as well as in key markets elsewhere. In total, we held $22.6 million and $19.2 million of demonstration inventory at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In addition, we recognize revenue upon customer acceptance. Therefore, a significant percentage of our inventory represents systems shipped but not yet accepted by the customer. Such "finished goods in-transit" were $20.1 million and $23.4 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. There are no credit terms extended to customers that would have a material adverse effect on our working capital.

Employees

        As of March 8, 2004, we employed approximately 1,279 full-time and part-time employees worldwide; 260 in the U.S. and 1,019 employees outside the U.S., located primarily in Europe.

Financial Information about Geographic Areas and Segments

        Financial Information about our geographic areas and segments required by Item 1 of Form 10-K may be found in Note 10 to our Financial Statements in this Form 10-K, included as part of Item 8 to this report. Financial information about our revenues from external customers, measure of profit and total assets required by Item 1 of Form 10-K is included in our Financial Statements in this Form 10-K included as part of Item 8 to this report.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

        The location and general character of our principal properties by segment as of December 31, 2003 are as follows:

Bruker Daltonics

        Bruker Daltonics' three principal facilities are located in Billerica, Massachusetts, in Bremen, Germany and in Leipzig, Germany. These facilities, which incorporate manufacturing, research and development, application and demonstration, marketing and sales and administration functions for the mass spectrometry and substance detection businesses of Bruker Daltonics, include:

•

an owned 90,000 square foot facility in Billerica, Massachusetts;



•

an owned 180,000 square foot facility in Bremen, Germany, which includes a 120,000 square foot extension of our existing 60,000 square foot Bremen facility, completed in early 2002; and



•

an owned 60,000 square foot facility in Leipzig, Germany.

        We lease additional centers for sales, applications and service support in Fremont, California; Coventry, United Kingdom (Bruker Daltonics Ltd.); Wissembourg, France (Bruker Daltonique S.A.); Stockholm, Sweden (Bruker Daltonics Scandinavia A.B.); Faellanden, Switzerland (Bruker Daltonics GmbH); Yokohama, Japan (Nihon Bruker Daltonics K.K.); Beijing, People's Republic of China, Taipei, Taiwan; Ontario, Canada (Bruker Daltonics Ltd.); Milan, Italy (Bruker Daltonics Italiana SRL); Alexandria, Australia (Bruker Daltonics Pty Ltd.); Singapore (Bruker Daltonics Pte LTD); Bruxelles, Belgium (Bruker Daltonics NV) and Wormer, Netherlands (Bruker Daltonics BV).

Bruker AXS

        Bruker AXS' three principal facilities are in Madison, Wisconsin, Karlsruhe, Germany, and Yokohama, Japan. These facilities, which incorporate manufacturing, research and development, application and demonstration, marketing and sales and administration functions for the analytical X-ray business of Bruker AXS, include:

•

an owned 43,000 square foot facility in Madison, Wisconsin;



•

an owned 97,000 square foot facility in Karlsruhe, Germany; and



•

a leased 15,000 square foot facility in Yokohama, Japan.

        We lease additional centers for sales, applications and service support in: Delft, The Netherlands (Bruker Nonius BV); Congleton, United Kingdom (Bruker AXS Ltd.); Paris, France (Bruker AXS SA); Salzburg, Austria (Bruker AXS GmbH); Milano, Italy (Bruker AXS S.r.L.); Johannesburg, South Africa (Bruker AXS (Pty) Ltd.); São Paulo, Brazil (Bruker AXS do Brasil Ltda.); Singapore (Bruker AXS Pte Ltd.); Geesthacht, Germany (Incoatec GmbH) and Beijing, People's Republic of China (Bruker AXS Representative Office).

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        We may, from time to time, be involved in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently involved in any pending legal proceedings that, either individually or taken as a whole, are reasonably likely in our judgment to materially harm our business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        None.

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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

        Our common stock has been traded on the Nasdaq National Market since August 4, 2000, the date that our common stock was first offered to the public. Prior to that time, there was no public market for our common stock. Prior to our merger with Bruker AXS Inc., our common stock traded under the symbol "BDAL." Since the consummation of the merger on July 1, 2003, our common stock has traded under the symbol "BRKR." The following table sets forth, for the period indicated, the high and low sale prices for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market.

        As of March 12, 2004, there were approximately 79 holders of record of our common stock. This number does not include the individual beneficial owners of shares held in nominee name or within clearinghouse positions of brokerage firms and banks. The Nasdaq official close price per share of our common stock on March 12, 2004, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market, was $5.50.

        We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently anticipate that we will retain all available funds for use in our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The terms of some of our outstanding indebtedness prohibit us from paying cash dividends.

        On August 3, 2000, our registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-34820) was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pursuant to the registration statement, we offered and sold 9,200,000 shares of our common stock at an initial public offering price of $13 per share, generating gross offering proceeds of approximately $119.6 million. The managing underwriters were UBS Warburg LLC, CIBC World Markets and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC. In connection with the offering, we incurred $8.4 million in underwriting discounts and commissions, and approximately $1.5 million in other related expenses. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting the foregoing expenses, were approximately $110.0 million. No payments or expenses were paid to directors, officers or affiliates of the Company or 10% owners of any class of equity securities of the Company. We have used a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to fund our continuing research and development activities, for working capital purposes, facility expansions and other general corporate purposes. Additionally, we have used approximately $7.0 million of the net proceeds to pay off a portion of our outstanding bank debt. The balance is invested in a variety of interest-bearing instruments including investment-grade corporate bonds, commercial paper and money market accounts.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        On July 1, 2003, we merged with Bruker AXS, a company under common control and we were the surviving corporation in that merger. We then formed two operating subsidiaries, Bruker Daltonics and Bruker AXS, into which we transferred substantially all of the assets and liabilities, except cash, which formerly belonged to us and Bruker AXS. See Note 5 to the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this report. The consolidated statements of operations data for each of the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 have been derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this report and reflect the consolidation of the historical financial results of us and Bruker AXS. The combined statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 and the consolidated and combined balance sheet data as of December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 have been derived by combining amounts from our and Bruker AXS' historical audited financial statements included in each company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results. The data presented below have been derived from financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be read with the consolidated and combined financial statements and schedules, including the notes, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this report.