Thermo Fisher Scientific to Acquire The Binding Site Group

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Binding Site Group (“The Binding Site”), a global leader in specialty diagnostics, from a shareholder group led by European private equity firm Nordic Capital, in an all-cash transaction valued at £2.25 billion, or $2.6 billion at current exchange rates.

Serving clinicians and laboratory professionals worldwide, The Binding Site provides specialty diagnostic assays and instruments to improve the diagnosis and management of blood cancers and immune system disorders. The Binding Site’s Freelite® offering is widely recommended for multiple myeloma diagnosis and monitoring across all stages of the disease by major clinical guideline publications.

Headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, The Binding Site has more than 1,100 employees globally and is an active and influential contributor to the broader scientific community. As an established leader in a fast-growing segment in which patient care has shifted towards early diagnosis and monitoring via regular testing, The Binding Site has an attractive financial profile. Its business has been growing approximately 10% annually and is on track to deliver more than $220 million of revenue in 2022. The strong clinical value of The Binding Site offering enables doctors across the globe to support millions of patients every year.

“This transaction perfectly aligns with our Mission and is an exciting addition to our existing specialty diagnostic offerings. With extensive expertise and a large and dedicated installed base in cancer diagnostics, The Binding Site will further enhance our specialty diagnostics portfolio,” said Marc N. Casper, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher. “The Binding Site is extremely well-respected by researchers and clinicians alike for its pioneering diagnosis and monitoring solutions for multiple myeloma. We also know early diagnosis and well-informed treatment decisions for multiple myeloma can make a significant difference in patient outcomes. We are excited by the opportunity to enable further innovation in this area for the benefit of patients and look forward to welcoming The Binding Site team to Thermo Fisher.”

Stefan Wolf, chief executive officer of The Binding Site, said, “This announcement marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for The Binding Site and is a testament to our team’s singular commitment to improving patient lives through the development and delivery of innovative solutions. The Binding Site has long been at the forefront of medical diagnostics and by joining the world leader in serving science, we will be even better positioned to accelerate scientific discovery and expand our product offering for the benefit of our colleagues, customers and, most importantly, the patients we serve.”

The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023, is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Upon completion, The Binding Site will become part of Thermo Fisher’s Specialty Diagnostics segment and is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share by $0.07 for the first full year of ownership.