The scientific equipment maker Thermo Fisher agreed on Monday to buy rival Life Technologies Corporation for $13.6 billion.
The deal will help Thermo Fisher, based in Waltham, Mass., expand its market share in the production of genetic sequencing machines, a fast-growing area used by scientists and drug companies to create specialized medicines for patients.
Under the terms of the deal, Thermo Fisher is offering shareholders $76 for each of their shares in Life Technologies, a 12 percent premium on the company’s closing stock price on Friday. Early this year, Life Technologies announced that it was undertaking a strategic review of its operations.
The takeover is the latest in a series of deals for Thermo Fisher, which was itself created through the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific in 2006.
“The acquisition of Life Technologies enhances all three elements of our growth strategy: technological innovation, a unique customer value proposition and expansion in emerging markets,†Thermo Fisher’s chief executive, Marc N. Casper, said in a statement.
Life Technologies manufacturers more than 50,000 different types of scientific equipment, including genetic sequencing and DNA analysis machines. The company, based in California, reported revenues of $3.8 billion, according to a company statement.
The deal for Life Technologies is expected to close early next year.
JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and WilmerHale advised Thermo Fisher on the deal, while Deutsche Bank, Moelis & Company and the law firm Cravath, Swaine and Moore advised Life Technologies.
