Thermo Fisher Scientific to purchase Dionex

Thermo Fisher Scientific has agreed a deal to purchase fellow life sciences company Dionex in a transaction valued at $2.1 billion (1.3 billion pounds).

The deal will see Thermo Fisher Scientific acquire all of the outstanding shares in the California-based firm, which is to become part of Thermo Fisher's analytical technologies segment when the transaction closes in the first quarter of 2011.

Dionex is known for the creation of the first ion chromatography system for water analysis in 1975 and now employs more than 1,600 employees in 21 countries based in six different continents.

Thermo Fisher Scientific expressed confidence that the deal will create a new leader in the chromatography sector, while also providing a strong platform for both firms to grow and expand into new territories.

Marc Casper, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher, said: "Together, we will offer our customers new solutions based on a powerful combination of leading instruments, software, consumables and services."

This comes after Thermo Fisher Scientific announced last month that it will also be purchasing Lomb Scientific, a specialist in the field of laboratory chemicals, consumables and instruments.