Beckman Coulter Profit Down 54%

Beckman Coulter Inc. said second-quarter profit plunged 54% to $9.5 million, or 32 cents a share, from the $20.8 million, or 72 cents a share, for the 1997 second quarter.

Sales rose 61% to $435 million from $270.6 million for the Fullerton medical-instrument company. First-half net income fell to $1.1 million, or 4 cents a share, from $36.4 million, or $1.26 a share, for the same period last year.

Sales climbed 66% to $834.1 million from $502.5 million. The company attributed the sales gains to its October 1997 acquisition of Coulter Corp.

The 1998 earnings figures include charges and expenses associated with the acquisition.