Biomerieux, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Biomerieux, Inc. Employee Savings Plan
Durham, NCManufacturing6,224 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$9,215Employer $ per active participant
$8,976Employee $ saved per active participant
0.08%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$1.1BNet plan assets, end of year
$133,266Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity46.4 / 5093th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.8 / 2563th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.1 / 1574th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-23 pts3 issues reported on the filing
Total score53 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 93th |
| Lower admin cost | 63th |
| Employee saving | 74th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 70% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($791,294 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $12,039 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Biomerieux put in about $9,215 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,452). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $57,356,318 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $55,867,979 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $7,141,891 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $799,626 |
| Contract administrator fees | $3,300 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $298,751 |
| Benefits paid out | $106,561,933 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $897.9M / $1.1B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 5,975 / 6,473 |
| Participants with account balances | 7,887 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Eisneramper LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $501,913 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $298,751 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251125141551NAL0007000978001, received 2025-11-25, EIN 43-1109770, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.