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29 March 2016Americas

Thermo Fisher reinforces Affymetrix merger plan

Biotechnology company Thermo Fisher Scientific said its potential merger with genomics company Affymetrix is its preferred option to another potential deal.

In a statement yesterday, March 28, Thermo Fisher said the merger agreement remains superior despite Affymetrix recently receiving another offer.

The statement comes after Affymetrix received a merger proposal from Origin Technologies on March 22.

Frank Witney, chief executive officer and president of Affymetrix, said: “The value, certainty and timing offered by our existing agreement with Thermo Fisher—scheduled to close in just a few days… outweighs the putatively higher premium but significantly greater uncertainties associated with a potential transaction with Origin.”

Marc Casper, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific, added: “We are pleased that the Affymetrix board of directors has concluded that our merger agreement remains superior.”

A special meeting of stakeholders at Affymetrix will take place on March 31 where stockholders will be able to consider the approval of the merger.


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31 May 2016   Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that it will buy FEI, an electron microscopy company, for $4.2 billion.

More on this story

Americas
31 May 2016   Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that it will buy FEI, an electron microscopy company, for $4.2 billion.