Danaher to acquire Beckman Coulter

Danaher has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Beckman Coulter, which will see it acquire the company for approximately $6.8 billion.

Danaher’s President and CEO, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., said, “Beckman Coulter is an iconic company with a great brand, broad reach and technology leadership; well positioned in the markets it serves. Beckman provides an excellent complement to our existing Life Sciences & Diagnostics businesses.”

Beckman Coulter develops, manufactures and markets products to simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical testing. Its diagnostic systems are found in hospitals and other clinical settings around the world and produce information used by physicians to diagnose disease, make treatment decisions and monitor patients. Its life science research instruments are used to study complex biological problems including causes of disease and potential new therapies or drugs.

Beckman Coulter would become part of Danaher’s Life Sciences & Diagnostics segment, joining Danaher’s Leica, AB Sciex, Radiometer and Molecular Devices businesses.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2011.

For more information visit www.danaher.com