Agilent and Swedish investors ink deal to buy Dako

[May 17, 2012]  SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Agilent Technologies and Swedish private equity group EQT say they've reached a deal to buy Dako, a Denmark-based cancer diagnostic company, for about $2.2 billion.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based scientific instrument maker says the addition of Dako will help it develop a wider range of cancer-fighting products.

Dako provides antibodies, reagents, scientific instruments and software mainly to cancer-related diagnostic labs. It also works with drug companies to develop new diagnostic methods that could be used to identify patients most likely to benefit from certain therapies.

Dako's products are sold in more than 100 countries, and its 2010 revenue totaled about $340 million. It employs more than 1,000 people in Denmark, California and other parts of the world.

The deal is expected to close within the next 60 days.

[Associated Press]

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