Thermo Fisher Buys QIAGEN for $11.5B

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and QIAGEN N.V., a global provider of molecular diagnostics and sample preparation technologies, announced their boards of directors, as well as the managing board of QIAGEN N.V., have unanimously approved Thermo Fisher’s proposal to acquire QIAGEN for €39 per share in cash. The offer price represents a premium of approximately 23 percent to the closing price of QIAGEN’s common stock on the Frankfurt Prime Standard on March 2, 2020, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the transaction. Thermo Fisher will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the ordinary shares of QIAGEN.
 
The transaction values QIAGEN at approximately $11.5 billion at current exchange rates, which includes the assumption of approximately $1.4 billion of net debt.
 
“We are excited to bring together our complementary offerings to advance our customers’ important work, from discovery to diagnostics,” said Marc N. Casper, chairman, president, and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “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. For shareholders, we expect the transaction to be immediately accretive and to generate significant cost and revenue synergies.”
 
QIAGEN is a provider of life science and molecular diagnostic solutions and employs approximately 5,100 people at 35 locations in more than 25 countries. The company generated 2019 revenue of $1.53 billion. 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.
 
“Our vision at QIAGEN has always been to make improvements in life possible with our differentiated Sample to Insight molecular testing solutions,” said Thierry Bernard, interim chief executive officer of QIAGEN N.V. and senior vice president, head of the molecular diagnostics business area. “This strategic step with Thermo Fisher will enable us to enter a promising new era and will give our employees the opportunity to have an even greater impact. The combination is designed to deliver significant cash value to our shareholders, while enabling us to accelerate the expansion of our solutions to provide customers worldwide with breakthroughs that advance our knowledge about the science of life and improve health outcomes.”
 
Casper concluded, “We look forward to welcoming QIAGEN’s employees to Thermo Fisher and are excited about the new opportunities we’ll have to advance precision medicine through new molecular diagnostics and improved life sciences workflows.”
 
Benefits of the Transaction
Thermo Fisher has built leading specialty diagnostics capabilities, including allergy and autoimmunity, transplant diagnostics, and clinical oncology testing. QIAGEN has a strong presence in molecular diagnostics with a product portfolio focused on infectious disease and other growth opportunities. The combined company will accelerate the development of higher-specificity, faster and more comprehensive tests that may improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of care.
 
For life sciences researchers, QIAGEN’s innovative sample preparation, assay and bioinformatics technologies are complementary to Thermo Fisher’s genetic analysis and biosciences capabilities. As an example, with an expanded portfolio, Thermo Fisher will be able to provide research customers with broader capabilities to accelerate discovery and enable scientific breakthroughs. 
 
Thermo Fisher will be able to leverage its extensive commercial reach, including its Fisher Scientific customer channels and comprehensive e-commerce platforms, to expand customer access to QIAGEN’s product portfolio. Furthermore, given Thermo Fisher’s leading presence in high-growth and emerging markets, QIAGEN will be able to further penetrate these regions.
 
The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Thermo Fisher’s adjusted EPS after close. Thermo Fisher expects to realize total synergies of $200 million by year three following the close, consisting of $150 million of cost synergies and $50 million of adjusted operating income¹ benefit from revenue synergies.
 
The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021, is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, the adoption of certain resolutions relating to the transaction at an Extraordinary General Meeting of QIAGEN’s shareholders, and completion of the tender offer.
 
Thermo Fisher has obtained committed bridge financing. Permanent funding is expected to come from cash on hand and the issuance of new debt. The transaction is not subject to any financing condition.
 
Reference
¹ Adjusted earnings per share and adjusted operating income are non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items detailed later in this press release under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”