Thermo Fisher to Acquire Life Technologies for USD 13.6 Billion

Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA, USA) and Life Technologies Corporation (Carlsbad, CA, USA) have signed a definitive agreement under which Thermo Fisher will acquire Life Technologies, creating enhanced capabilities for serving life science research, specialty diagnostics, and applied markets. The acquisition will take place for approximately USD 13.6 billion (plus the assumption of net debt at close—USD 2.2 billion as of yearend 2012).

The transaction will create a superior industry leader by building on both companies’ strengths for life sciences, such as proteomics, genomics, and cell biology. It will also strengthen technology and innovation leadership through complementary offerings that further broaden Thermo Fisher’s portfolio. Life Technologies provides innovative services and products (about 5,000 patents and licenses), offering a broad range of reagents, consumables, instruments, and systems. Life has an extensive offering of consumables for genomics, and molecular and cell biology and a range of technologies for bioproduction and forensics; it is also well known for its next-generation sequencing capability. These strengths, combined with Thermo Fisher’s leading offerings in analytical technologies and specialty diagnostics, create new convergence opportunities. The acquisition also enhances Thermo Fisher’s global reach. Life transacts more than half of its orders online through a highly regarded e-commerce platform. This leading capability, combined with Thermo Fisher’s extensive customer channels, creates a world-class infrastructure.


“This transaction enhances [...] our growth strategy: technological innovation, a unique customer value proposition, and expansion in emerging markets,” said Marc N. Casper, president and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Gregory T. Lucier, chairman and CEO of Life Technologies, said, “We look forward to joining forces with the outstanding team at Thermo Fisher, which shares our commitment to customers, employees, and the communities we serve.” Mr. Casper added, “Together we will be in an even stronger position to fulfill our company’s mission, which is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.”

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