Thermo Electron Acquires US Counseling Services

In a move that will augment the company's service business by providing asset management skills, Thermo Electron Corp. (Waltham, MA, USA) has acquired US Counseling Services, Inc. (USCS, Brookfield, WI, USA) for U.S.$77.9 million in cash.

As a leading scientific instrument company, Thermo has provided maintenance and repair services to its customers over the years. In November 2003, the company added to this capability by acquiring Laboratory Management Systems (LMSi, New Castle, DE, USA). LMSi provides instrument and computer systems validation, metrology, and certification, as well as a range of associated consulting services. With the addition of USCS, Thermo has further augmented its strategy to become the most comprehensive service provider to scientific laboratories worldwide.

USCS is a leading company in equipment asset-management services in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The company has successfully established a growing market position, providing a wide range of asset management services, including instrument and equipment maintenance management, physical inventory tracking, and cost-of-ownership analysis to help customers improve the performance of their laboratory or facility. The company employs 175 employees and had revenues of about $57 million in 2003.

"The pressure to reduce operating budgets and improve return on assets is very real to laboratory and facility managers,” said Marijn E. Dekkers, president and CEO of Thermo Electron Corp. "USCS has a proven track record with their Lifecycle maintenance management product, a valuable tool enabling customers to manage their total cost of ownership for major capital equipment investments.”




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