Beckman Coulter To Buy Siemens' Clinical Microbiology Business

(RTTNews) - Beckman Coulter, Inc., a subsidiary of diversified machinery maker Danaher Corp. (DHR), agreed Wednesday to acquire the clinical microbiology business of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, a unit of German conglomerate Siemens AG (SIEGY, SMAWF). The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The sale of its microbiology unit could reportedly fetch Siemens more than $300 million and will enable it to refocus on its energy and industrial businesses.

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics President Arnd Kaldowski said, "The clinical microbiology business will be an excellent complement to Beckman Coulter's Diagnostics business with a strong reputation and market position. Adding its ID/AST solutions to our existing products and services will create an opportunity to enhance our offerings to laboratory customers and improve patient care."

The Siemens clinical microbiology business operates with an installed base of over 6,000 instruments globally. It is an established leader in microbial identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing (ID/AST).

The proposed deal will help expand Beckman Coulter's product portfolio with differentiated analytical systems and menu, while driving the company's continued growth.

The deal, subject to applicable regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015. Siemens has also reportedly been exploring a sale of its hospital database and information-technology unit.

Further, Siemens was recently engaged in a bidding war for French speed train maker Alstom SA's (ALSMY, AOMFF, ALS.L) power and grid business.

Alstom said in late June that its board of directors recommended an improved $17 billion offer made by diversified conglomerate General Electric Co. (GE) for the company's power and grid business.

DHR closed Wednesday's regular trading session at $78.50, up $0.26 or 0.33% on a volume of 2.61 million shares, and SIEGY closed at $127.40, up $2.06 or 1.64% on a volume of 0.12 million shares.