Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) announced its largest deal ever in July 2019. The Santa Clara, California-based biotech purchased privately held BioTek Instruments for nearly $1.2 billion.
Agilent provides bio-analytical solutions and services to the life sciences, diagnostics, and genomics, chemical analysis, communications and electronics industries worldwide. On a trailing 12-month basis it generated revenue of $5.0 billion, EBITDA of $1.2 billion and net income of $1.1 billion.
BioTek designs, manufactures and distributes life science instrumentation worldwide. Its product line includes cell imaging systems, microplate readers, washers, dispensers, automated incubators and stackers.
This acquisition is Agilent’s first in 2019, but it follws a very busy M&A period in 2018 when the company announced five transactions with a combined total of $689.6 million. The two largest of those totaled $250 million each. In Janaury, Agilent acquired Advanced Analytical Technologies, Inc., which provides capillary electrophoresis-based solutions for fully-automated analysis of a range of molecules. AAT’s solutions are comprised of instruments, software and consumables aimed at simplifying complex workflows.
In September 2018, it paid $250 million for ACEA Biosciences Inc., which develops cutting-edge cell analysis instruments for life science research and clinical diagnostics. It also has a large manufacturing and R&D footprint in Hangzhou, China.
