you're right - this works like a charm.

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).Select

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).FormatConditions.Delete

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).FormatConditions.Add _
Type:=xlExpression, Operator:=xlGreater, _
Formula1:="=B2<C2"

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).FormatConditions.Add _
Type:=xlExpression, Operator:=xlGreater, _
Formula1:="=B2C2"

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).FormatConditions.Add _
Type:=xlExpression, Operator:=xlGreater, _
Formula1:="=B2=C2"

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).FormatConditions(1).Font.ColorIndex = 11 'blue

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).FormatConditions(2).Font.ColorIndex = 9 'red

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e _
("B2:B" & lr).FormatConditions(3).Font.ColorIndex = 10 'green

xlapp.Workbooks(strXlsFile).Worksheets(sn(i)).Rang e("A1").Select