Thermo Fisher Scientific and Gerresheimer Group to Form Joint Venture Creating Leading Glass Labware Business
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced that it has signed an agreement with the Gerresheimer Group to form a joint venture that would create a leading manufacturer of disposable and reusable glass labware for scientific laboratories. Gerresheimer is a global supplier of specialty glass and plastic devices for life sciences markets. The new entity, called Kimble/Chase Life Scienceware, LLC, will be based in New Jersey, with additional operations in the U.S., Germany, Mexico and China. The closing of the joint venture is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.
"This joint venture will reshape the glass consumables marketplace," said Guy Broadbent, senior vice president and president of laboratory products for Thermo Fisher Scientific. "The combination of well-known glass labware brands from Thermo Fisher and Gerresheimer will form a leading supplier with an extensive product portfolio and a global footprint. With its significant production capabilities in China, the new business will be able to more effectively deliver its products to customers in that growing market as well as other parts of the world."
Under the agreement, Thermo Fisher will own 49% of the joint venture, contributing its Chase Scientific, Scherf and Pfeiffer glassware lines, which generated approximately $55 million of revenue in 2006 and are manufactured in the U.S. and Germany. Gerresheimer, which will own 51%, contributes its life science research products including certain Kimble, Kontes and Bomex brands, which generated approximately $68 million of 2006 revenue and are manufactured in the U.S., Mexico and China. The agreement expands an existing sales and marketing joint venture that has been in place since 2001.
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