ILLUMINA
APPOINTS MCCOMB AND HEATH
March 17, 2008 – Illumina, Inc. today announced
the appointment of Joel McComb
as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Company's Life Sciences
Business Unit and Gregory F. Heath, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President and
General Manager of the Company's Diagnostics Business Unit.
Joel McComb joins Illumina from GE Healthcare where he
held a number of executive positions including his most
recent position as President of the Interventional Medicine
Business. Prior to this role, Joel was President of Life
Sciences Discovery Systems, a $600 million division of
GE Healthcare. This business unit was formed after GE acquired
Amersham Biosciences, and markets molecular biology, genomics,
proteomic, and cellular imaging products.
In his new position as Illumina's General Manager of Life
Sciences, Joel is responsible for managing all products
and services related to the research market, namely the
BeadArray(TM), BeadXpress(R), and Sequencing product lines.
Gregory F. Heath brings with him more than 20 years of
Diagnostics experience, including launching the world's
first FDA-approved microarray for diagnostic use.
He joins Illumina from Roche Molecular Systems where he
held a number of senior executive positions, including
Head of Clinical Genomics, Senior Vice President
of Global Product Marketing, Senior Vice President of Global
Marketing and Business Development, and most recently,
Senior Vice President of Global Business.
In his new position as General Manager of Diagnostics,
Greg is responsible
for managing Illumina's emerging diagnostics business,
specifically overseeing
the development of diagnostic content for the BeadXpress
system, and ultimately
for Illumina's Sequencing products.
BRUKER BIOSCIENCES TO CHANGE NAME
February 25, 2008 – After the Company's Special Stockholders
Meeting
held this morning in Boston, Bruker BioSciences
Corporation announced that its stockholders have approved
the acquisition of the companies comprising the Bruker
BioSpin Group.
All proposals were approved with overwhelming majorities
by the Bruker BioSciences stockholders. In particular, the
three proposals for the acquisition of the Bruker BioSpin
Group companies were each approved by a majority of greater
than 99% of the BRKR shareholders not affiliated with the
controlling shareholders of BRKR and who voted at the meeting.
In addition, stockholders approved amendments to the Company's
certificate of incorporation to change the name of the Company
to 'Bruker Corporation'.
ROCHE
COMPLETED TENDER OFFER FOR VENTANA
February 19, 2008 – Roche and Ventana Medical Systems Inc.
announced that Roche has completed the tender offer for
the outstanding shares of Ventana. As of the expiration
of the subsequent offering period, Rocket Acquisition Corporation,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roche, had purchased a total
of approximately 34,545,323 shares of Ventana common stock,
representing approximately 93.7% of Ventana’s outstanding
shares. All shares validly tendered in the offer have been
accepted for payment, and the consideration for all such
shares either has been paid or will promptly be paid.
Roche expects to complete the acquisition of Ventana today
through a short-form merger, without a vote or meeting of
Ventana’s shareholders. In the merger, all of the
shares of Ventana not owned by Roche and its subsidiaries
(other than shares as
to which appraisal rights are validly
exercised) will be converted into the right to
receive the
same cash consideration that was paid in the tender offer.
Following the
merger, Ventana’s common stock will
cease to be traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
GE HEALTHCARE TO ACQUIRE WHATMAN
February 4, 2008 – GE Healthcare and Whatman plc announced
that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended
acquisition of Whatman by GE Healthcare. Under the terms
of the transaction, each Whatman shareholder will receive
270 pence in cash for each Whatman share, valuing Whatman
at approximately £363 million (approximately $713 million.)
The transaction is subject to approval by Whatman’s
shareholders as well as customary regulatory approvals.
Whatman has a broad product offering of filters and membranes
for laboratory, research, life sciences and medical technology
applications. GE Healthcare’s Life Sciences business
is a world class provider of technologies for cellular and
protein science research, and tools used in the manufacture
of biopharmaceuticals such as vaccines, cell therapies and
antibodies. The strong strategic fit between the two businesses
will offer substantial customer benefits and create significant
synergies through complementary product and service offerings.
Peter Ehrenheim, President and CEO of GE Healthcare’s
Life Sciences business, said, “Whatman’s expertise
and reputation in filtration technologies and sample preparation
is a great fit for our Life Sciences business because it
brings new technologies that are fundamental to helping
researchers increase their understanding of the role of
genes and proteins in disease. We believe that combining
the skills of the two companies will enable GE Healthcare
to create strong added value for customers in biomedical
and drug discovery research.”
AFFYMETRIX
COMPLETES USB ACQUISITION
January 31, 2008 – Affymetrix Inc. announced the completion
of its acquisition of USB Corporation, a privately held
Cleveland, Ohio-based company that develops, manufactures
and markets an extensive line of molecular biology and biochemical
reagent products. In connection with the completion of the
acquisition, USB stockholders received approximately $75
million in cash.
PERKINELMER
ELECTS FRIEL
January 23, 2008 – PerkinElmer, Inc. announced that Robert
F. Friel has been elected Chief Executive Officer by the
Company's Board of Directors effective February 1, 2008.
Mr. Friel will also retain the title of President.
Gregory L. Summe will continue in the role of Executive
Chairman of the Board, and remain as such through the Annual
Shareholders meeting in April 2009. The announcement is
consistent with the Company's leadership succession plan
announced in July 2007.
Friel, who serves on the ALSSA Board of Directors, joined
PerkinElmer in 1999 as Chief Financial Officer, and was
appointed Vice Chairman and President of its Life and Analytical
Sciences business in 2006. In 2007, Friel was appointed
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
LUMINEX JOINS ALSSA
January 22, 2008 – Luminex Corporation, based in Austin, Texas, has
joined ALSSA. Incorporated in May 1995, Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures
and markets innovative biological testing technologies with applications
throughout the life science and diagnostic industries. The company’s
open-architecture xMAP® technology enables large numbers of biological
tests (bioassays) to be conducted and analyzed quickly, cost-effectively
and accurately.
Russell Bradley, Vice President of Strategic Planning and
Business Development, will be the official representative
to ALSSA, and Gregory J. Gosch, Vice President of Sales & Marketing,
will be the alternate representative. For more information,
please consult their web site at www.luminexcorp.com.
MALVERN
BUYS VISCOTEK
January 17, 2008 – Materials characterization company
Malvern Instruments has acquired Viscotek Corporation,
a leading provider of chromatography solutions for the
characterization of natural and synthetic polymers and
proteins. Malvern supplies systems for the characterization
of particulate materials, providing complete application
solutions across a broad range of industries. The acquisition
of Viscotek brings new and complementary technologies
and expertise into the company, adding Gel Permeation
Chromatography (GPC), Flow Injection Polymer Analysis
(FIPA)
and Dilute Solution
Viscosity (DSV), and extending the range of characterization
solutions offered.
Viscotek’s present management team will continue
to lead the business, which will operate as Viscotek Corporation,
a Malvern Company.
INVITROGEN
TO AQUIRE CELLZDIRECT
January 10, 2008 – Invitrogen Corporation announced
it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase
privately-held CellzDirect, Inc., based in Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina, in a cash transaction for approximately
$57 million. The acquisition is expected to close in the
first quarter.
CellzDirect provides hepatocyte-based cell products and
related services used in the testing of new drugs. CellzDirect’s
products are mainly used by pharmaceutical and biotech companies
in research and development. Primary hepatocytes are also
used in biomedical research to study liver diseases and
to understand downstream implications of cellular function.
SYMYX TECHNOLOGIES AND ALPHA INNOTECH
JOIN ALSSA
January 7, 2008 – Symyx Technologies, Inc. and Alpha Innotech Corporation
are the two latest companies to submit applications for membership in ALSSA.
Symyx Technologies is located in Sunnyvale, California.
Their Tools Division produces software, integrated workflow
solutions and research services aimed at accelerating R&D success. Gerard A. Abraham, President of
the Symyx Tools Division, will be the official representative to ALSSA.
For more information, consult their web site at www.symyx.com.
Alpha Innotech Corporation is located in San Leandro, California.
Founded in 1992, the company manufactures and markets digital
imaging and detection systems for the life science research
and drug discovery markets. Ron Bissinger, CEO, will be
the official representative to ALSSA, and Sia Ghazvini,
Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, will be the alternate
representative. For more information, consult their web site at www.alphainnotech.com.
ILLUMINA
REORGANIZATION
January 4, 2008 – Illumina, Inc. announced that it
has reorganized its operating structure to further leverage
the synergies between its sequencing and genotyping businesses.
Under the new structure, a newly created Life Sciences Business
Unit will include all products and services related to the
research market namely the BeadArray, BeadXpress and Sequencing
product lines. The Company has also created a Diagnostics
Business Unit to put more focus on the emerging opportunity
in molecular diagnostics. The Diagnostics Business Unit
will develop diagnostic content for the BeadXpress system,
and ultimately for Illumina's Sequencing products.
Effective immediately, Christian Henry, Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer will take on the role of Acting
General Manager of the Sequencing business. The company
also announced that it has hired a Senior Vice President
and General Manager, Life Sciences who will be responsible
for managing the newly created Life Sciences Business Unit,
and that has hired a Senior Vice President and General Manager,
Diagnostics.
Further, Illumina announced that it has initiated searches
for a Senior Vice President Product Development and a Senior
Vice President of Operations, with both reporting to the
General Manager, Life Sciences.
THERMO
PURCHASES LA-PHA-PACK
December 20, 2007 – Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
announced it has acquired La-Pha-Pack, a leading manufacturer
and provider of chromatography consumables and related accessories,
based in Langerwehe, Germany. With revenues of approximately
$25 million, La-Pha-Pack will allow Thermo Fisher to offer
customers an expanded line of chromatography consumable
products through broad geographic coverage in Europe.
La-Pha-Pack will be integrated into Thermo Fisher Scientific's
laboratory consumables business, which is part of its Laboratory
Products and Services Segment. For more information, visit
http://www.la-pha-pack.com.
PERKINELMER
BUYS METABOLIC SCREENING BUSINESS
December 19, 2007 – PerkinElmer, Inc. announced the
signing of a definitive agreement with Pediatrix Medical
Group, Inc. under which PerkinElmer will acquire the newborn
metabolic screening business of Pediatrix in a cash transaction.
The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter.
Under the terms of the agreement, PerkinElmer will acquire
Pediatrix's metabolic screening laboratory and its StepOne(R)
newborn screening product that is capable of analyzing more
than 50 inherited disorders in newborns. Currently, Pediatrix's
screening laboratory provides neonatal screening and consultative
services to hospitals, medical groups, and the states of
Maryland, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska and Pennsylvania,
as well as the District of Columbia. Since its founding
in 1994, the laboratory has screened more than three million
babies, and is anticipated to generate revenues of approximately
$15 million in 2007.
