Thermo Fisher to buy signature electron microscopy technology maker FEI Co for $4.2 bn

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, the world's largest maker of scientific instruments, today struck a deal to buy signature electron microscopy technology maker FEI Co for about $4.2 billion.

Thermo Fisher is offering to pay $107.50 per share, a premium of 13.7 per cent to FEI's yesterday closing price of $94.58.

FEI designs, manufactures high-performance electron microscopy workflows that provide images and information at micro-, nano- and picometer scales.

FEI enables customers across life sciences and materials science markets to make breakthrough discoveries and increase productivity.

The Oregon-based company has more than 3,000 employees worldwide and maintains R&D, sales and manufacturing operations in Europe and the US. It reported revenues of $930 million last year.

Thermo Fisher said that FEI will become part of its Analytical Instruments Segment.

FEI's high-end electron microscopes are complementary to Thermo Fisher's mass spectrometry systems used for protein identification and characterization.

FEI's Cryo-EM technology is a disruptive technique used increasingly for the analysis of proteins in structural biology.

''The addition of FEI's leading electron microscopy platform is an outstanding strategic fit with our company and will create significant value for our customers and our shareholders,'' said Marc Casper, president and CEO of Thermo Fisher.