Trinity Biotech has entered into a binding agreement for the sale of its worldwide Coagulation business to the Stago Group for $90m

Disposal of the Coagulation business

German Merck has more takeover ideas:

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) is eyeing further acquisitions following its agreed $6 billion cash purchase of U.S. biotech tool maker Millipore (MIL.N), Merck's chief executive told a German newspaper

Millipore insiders, Madaus eye big payouts
Boston Business Journal - by Craig M. Douglas

Monday, March 1, 2010, 2:12pm EST | Modified: Monday, March 1, 2010, 3:16pm

FRANKFURT, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Germany's Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) on Sunday said it agreed to buy U.S. biotech tool maker Millipore Corp (MIL.N) for around $6 billion in cash, as the company looks to build its lab equipment business.

Merck, the world's largest maker of chemicals for flat-panel displays, said late on Sunday it agreed to acquire Millipore for $107 per share in cash, valuing the deal at around $7.2 billion including net debt.

The deal snatches Millipore away from rival bidder Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc (TMO.N). A source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Feb. 22 that Thermo Fisher offered to buy Millipore for $6 billion [ID:nN22198210], but the exact terms of that bid were unknown.

Merck's bid represents a 13 percent premium over Friday's closing price for Millipore shares, which had already been boosted by recent takeover speculation.

In a statement, Merck said the tie-up would create a supplier of equipment and substances for research to the life science sector with 2.1 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in annual sales. Millipore, which makes filters and purifiers for laboratory water and other materials used in making biotechnology drugs, had revenue of $1.65 billion, or 1.21 billion euros, last year.

Merck said the deal will create about $100 million of annual cost savings, which it expects to reach within three years of closing.

Merck said it expects the transaction to clear regulatory review and be completed in the second half of 2010.

Family-controlled Merck, which traces its roots to a 17th century pharmacy, has been a smaller player in the biotech-research equipment market. It relies heavily on liquid crystals, the key chemicals for TV flat screens, and on multiple sclerosis drug Rebif and cancer drug Erbitux for earnings.

In 2006, it was trumped by national rival Bayer (BAYGn.DE) in a takeover battle over German contraceptives specialist Schering, but the following year it acquired Swiss biotech company Serono for 10.3 billion euros.

To finance the Millipore deal, Merck will use cash it holds on its balance sheet and will take out bridge loans, which at a later stage will be replaced by a bond issue, a spokeswoman said.

Millipore had confirmed on Tuesday it was evaluating strategic alternatives, including a merger or sale of the company. [ID:nSGE61N05L]

Millipore shares hit an all-time high of $97.58 after reports of Thermo Fisher's interest in buying the company. They closed at $94.41 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.

Guggenheim Securities and Perella Weinberg Partners advised Merck in the transaction, and Goldman Sachs & Co advised Millipore. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Marilyn Gerlach, Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Diane Craft)

From Q4 earnings report:
"revenues for the Life Science segment were $631.5 million, down 1.9% over the prior year, or an increase of 0.8% on a currency-neutral basis."
"The Clinical Diagnostics segment salses were $1,139.9 million, an increase of 3.0% over the prior year. On a currency-neutral basis, full-year sales increased 8.5%, compared to 2008 results."

Published reports have Thermo making an unsolicited bid of $6B to acquire Millipore. Is this good or dad for the industry?

And then there was one...

Just read that on Feb 11th, the board of General Electric (NYSE:GE) is convening to review the company’s decision to launch a formal friendly bid to take a 100 percent stake in the Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) in a deal worth $10.4 billion. Has anyone heard about this?

February 11, 2010
GenomeWeb staff reporter

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Life Technologies intends to raise $1.5 billion from the sale of senior notes due in three years, five years, and 10 years.

Life Technologies last week denied all allegations in a lawsuit that former Visigen Biotechnologies CEO and co-founder Susan Hardin filed in October 2009 against Life Tech, its Invitrogen unit, and Visigen, alleging breach of contract, fraud, negligent representation, and breach of fiduciary duty regarding Invitrogen's 2008 acquisition of Visigen.