Innogenetics shareholders will receive E6.10 per share in cash, or approximately E188 million. The combined entity is expected to be the largest standalone molecular diagnostics company in the world, with pro forma 2008 sales in excess of $500 million.
The combined company would offer a broad range of nucleic acid and immunoassay tests to identify bacterial and viral infectious diseases, genetic and neurological disorders, transplant compatibility, and cancer. These tube- and strip-based products could be sold to a diverse group of small, medium and large customers around the world.
Hank Nordhoff, Gen-Probe’s chairman and CEO, said: “We believe our proposed acquisition of Innogenetics would provide strategically valuable marketing and sales, distribution and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate commercialization of Gen-Probe products in the European molecular diagnostics market, which we estimate is growing at roughly double the rate of the US market.”