Danaher Corp, Washington, DC, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a privately held provider of consumables for genomics applications in gene editing, molecular biology, next-generation sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and synthetic biology.

IDT’s primary business is the manufacturing of custom DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, serving customers in the academic and biopharmaceutical research, agriculture, biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development end-markets. Founded in 1987, IDT has more than 1,200 employees and more than 100,000 customers worldwide. IDT will operate as a standalone operating company and brand within Danaher’s life sciences platform.

“We are thrilled to have IDT join Danaher’s life sciences platform,” says Rainer Blair, executive vice president of Danaher’s life sciences platform. “IDT expands our presence into the highly attractive genomics market and will help play a central role in accelerating our customers’ research and time to market as they develop critical diagnostic tests and potential life-saving therapies. IDT’s historical double-digit core revenue growth and strong margins are a testament to the team’s commitment to the highest standards of quality, service, and technical expertise.”

“For more than 30 years, IDT’s innovative tools and solutions for genomics applications have helped scientists advance their research and contribute to solving some of the world’s most vexing diseases and other challenges addressed by the life sciences community,” says Joseph Walder, MD, PhD, founder, chief executive, and chairman of IDT. “Joining Danaher will allow us to accelerate the high pace of innovation and superior service our customers have come to expect from us, as well as help expand our global reach. I’m excited to watch IDT further grow and innovate in this expanding area of genomics with the help of DBS.”

“Danaher is a proven steward of founder-led businesses, such as Hach and Phenomenex,” says Thomas P. Joyce, Jr, president and chief executive of Danaher. “We recognize the extraordinary contributions Dr. Walder and IDT have made to the advancement of genomics research and applications over the past 30 years. We look forward to supporting the IDT team and helping them leverage the tools of the Danaher business system (DBS) to further enhance their growth profile and continue to create long-term customer value.”

The transaction, which is expected to close mid-year 2018, is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.