Thermo Fisher acquires HighChem but not Gatan

Serving science company Thermo Fisher Scientific has completed its acquisition of HighChem, a developer of mass spectrometry software based in Bratislava, Slovakia.

HighChem software solutions are used to analyse complex data and identify small molecules in pharmaceutical and metabolomics laboratories. HighChem will be integrated into the chromatography and mass spectrometry business within Thermo Fisher’s Analytical Instruments Segment.

“Our customers rely on us to provide advanced software solutions that interpret data quickly and accurately to make compound identification simple and understandable,” said Mitch Kennedy, President, Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “The addition of HighChem’s software solutions to our existing mass spectrometry software portfolio will enable us to deliver greater value for our mass spectrometry customers.”

But it’s not all good news for Thermo Fisher, which just a few days later announced that it has terminated the agreement under which it would have acquired Gatan — a wholly owned subsidiary of diversified technology company Roper Technologies.

Both companies agreed to withdraw from the proposed transaction due to challenges in obtaining regulatory approval in the United Kingdom.

An existing long-term supply agreement, under which Gatan supplies filter systems, cameras and software to Thermo Fisher’s electron microscopy business, remains intact.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/V&P Photo Studio

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