Sartorius Adds Pipettes to Lab Portfolio

Sartorius (Germany) is to acquire the liquid handling business of the Finnish laboratory supplier Biohit Oyj, one of the  global market leaders for mechanical and electronic pipettes and associated consumables. The segment, which employs some 400 people, generated net sales of approximately €38 million and an EBITD Amargin of approximately  13% in fiscal 2010. “Pipettes are the ideal addition to our laboratory product offering,” commented Dr Joachim Kreuzburg, CEO and Executive Board Chairman of Sartorius AG. “Just like our balances, they are among the most
frequently used lab instruments with especially high customer requirements regarding their precision, reliability, safety and service support. Biohit is one of the leading suppliers in this field, known worldwide for innovative solutions and high quality. With this acquisition, we will substantially strengthen our strategic positioning with our customers and move significantly toward our goal of  serving as a broad-based supplier of high-quality laboratory instruments and consumables supported by excellent service." Welcoming the acquisition, Professor Osmo Suovaniemi, the
founder as well as the Chairman of the Board of Biohit Oyj, said, “We are really happy to have found a buyer in Sartorius whose strategic objective is an excellent fit with our liquid handling business and who will continue to further develop it on a global basis. Access to the strong global market presence and customer base of Sartorius will provide excellent prospects for growth. "Subject to the acquisition are all assets of the liquid handling segment of Biohit Oyj, including its production facilities in Finland and China, as well as its sales subsidiaries in eight countries. The acquisition s expected to close in December 2011.