West first-quarter results affected by January explosion

LIONVILLE, Pa. (April 22)—West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. had first-quarter net income of $3.8 million compared to $6.1 million in the like period of 2002, the company reported April 22. The results for 2003's first quarter include $5.1 million in pretax expenses for the Jan. 29 explosion and fire at West's Kinston, N.C., production facility, the company said. Excluding the losses associated with the Kinston fire and a one-time gain of $600,000 from 2002 first-quarter activities, 2003 first-quarter net income was $7.1 million, compared to $5.5 million in 2002, West reported. Sales for the period grew to $117.8 million, up 16 percent from $101.7 million last year.