Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, Mass.; and Qiagen N.V., Netherlands, announce that their boards of directors have unanimously approved Thermo Fisher’s proposal to acquire Qiagen for $44 per share in cash.
Qiagen is a leading provider of life science and molecular diagnostic solutions, and employs approximately 5,100 people at 35 locations in more than 25 countries. Its sample preparation technologies are used to extract, isolate, and purify DNA, RNA, and proteins from a wide range of biological samples. The company’s assay technologies are then used to amplify and enrich these biomolecules to make them readily accessible for analysis. In addition, Qiagen’s instruments can be used to automate these workflows, while its bioinformatics systems provide customers with relevant, actionable insights.
“This acquisition provides us with the opportunity to leverage our industry-leading capabilities and R&D expertise to accelerate innovation and address emerging healthcare needs,” said Marc N. Casper, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “For shareholders, we expect the transaction to be immediately accretive and to generate significant cost and revenue synergies.”
