Agilent Completes Acquisition of ACEA Biosciences

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it has completed the acquisition of ACEA Biosciences, Inc. (ACEA), a developer of cutting-edge cell analysis tools, for $250 million in cash. This acquisition brings together two pioneers in cellular function and metabolism measurements focused on real-time, live cell analyses.

ACEA has developed two ground-breaking platforms that are complementary to Agilent’s current portfolio. The ACEA xCELLigence^® RTCA technology is a unique impedance platform for label-free, real-time cellular function measurements used in immuno-oncology, pre-clinical drug discovery and development, as well as in basic academic research. This technology is complemented by the introduction in recent years of the NovoCyte^® and NovoCyte Quanteon™ portfolio of high performance bench top flow cytometry systems.

ACEA also markets a clinical configuration of the NovoCyte platform, currently commercialized in China. This provides a unique opportunity in combination with Agilent’s Reagent Partnership business within Agilent’s Diagnostics and Genomics Group which provides reagents for flow cytometry.

“The Agilent and ACEA teams are united by a common goal to provide the most innovative high-performance solutions for cell analysis,” said Todd Christian, Vice President & General Manager of Agilent’s Cell Analysis Division. “We are excited for the opportunities we have as a newly combined team to provide the most advanced tools for scientists performing cell analysis workflows.”

ACEA is Agilent’s second acquisition this year in the cell analysis space. In January, Agilent acquired Luxcel Biosciences, a developer of real-time fluorescence plate-reader based in vitro cell assay kits. Cell analysis is a key area of strategic focus for Agilent.

ACEA was founded in 2002 and has its headquarters in San Diego and a large manufacturing and R&D footprint in Hangzhou, China. More than 2,500 ACEA instruments have been placed globally and have been used in more than 1,800 peer-reviewed publications.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. With more than 50 years of insight and innovation, Agilent instruments, software, services, solutions, and people provide trusted answers to customers’ most challenging questions. The company generated revenues of $4.47 billion in fiscal 2017 and employs 14,500 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com. To receive the latest Agilent news, subscribe to our Newsroom.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the opportunities the acquisition brings. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Agilent’s results to differ materially from management’s current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to integrate ACEA’s operations with Agilent’s, retain key employees, meet customer expectations and realize efficiencies from the combined businesses. In addition, other risks that Agilent faces in running its operations include the ability to execute successfully through business cycles; the ability to meet and achieve the benefits of its cost-reduction goals and otherwise successfully adapt its cost structures to continuing changes in business conditions; ongoing competitive, pricing and gross-margin pressures; the risk that our cost-cutting initiatives will impair our ability to develop products and remain competitive and to operate effectively; the impact of geopolitical uncertainties and global economic conditions on our operations, our markets and our ability to conduct business; the ability to improve asset performance to adapt to changes in demand; the ability of our supply chain to adapt to changes in demand; the ability to successfully introduce new products at the right time, price and mix; the ability of Agilent to successfully integrate recent acquisitions; the ability of Agilent to successfully comply with certain complex regulations; and other risks detailed in Agilent’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2018. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Agilent’s management and on currently available information. Agilent undertakes no responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

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