Qiagen completes Digene acquisition

Qiagen has revealed its acquisition of Digene is now complete.

The transaction was first announced by the firm on June 3rd as a merger of Digene into an existing Qiagen subsidiary.

Existing Digene shareholders are now told they may receive a cash payment, or obtain Qiagen stock.

In all, it is expected that the total consideration issued is to be split 55 per cent as cash and 45 per cent as shares in Qiagen, the company advises.

Peer Schatz, chief executive officer of Qiagen, says: "We are gratified by the vote of confidence of Digene shareholders who tendered more than 94 per cent of all Digene shares."

"That 90 per cent of the shares tendered expressed a preference to receive Qiagen stock in exchange demonstrates great confidence," he adds.

Mr Schatz previously welcomed the opportunity to combine the firms’ expertise in virology and oncology in order to develop next-generation molecular diagnostic tests.