Second time around

MIDDLESEX, U.K.—For the second time in two years, LGC Ltd.has acquired a business unit from Cambridgeshire, U.K-based QuotientBioresearch, this time the division formerly known as Quotient BioanalyticalSciences.

"We're delighted to have acquired Quotient BioanalyticalSciences, a high-quality business which is complementary to our existingactivities," said Jeremy Cook, managing director of LGC's Health Sciencesdivision, in an official statement about the early-January acquisition. "Wecontinue to develop our range of first-rate services in the pharmaceutical,biotechnology and agrochemical sectors by offering our customers a unique mixof technical experience, leading-edge facilities and knowledgeable people."

This facility, as it happens, is located in Fordham,Cambridgeshire—the same location as HFL Sport Science, which was the businessunit LGC previously acquired from Quotient in December 2010.

HFL, one of the world's largest independent provider of drugsurveillance, doping control and research activities to human and equinesports, was—like the bioanalytical sciences division—also touted in terms ofits ability to "complement LGC's current analytical service offerings," but itwas also highlighted for its ability to "extend" those offerings.

The newest acquisition will form part of LGC's HealthSciences division and, admittedly, will probably also be an opportunity toexpand as well as complement, as it will "enable LGC to provide an enhancedrange of products and services to the pharmaceutical sector includingbioanalysis, materials science and reference materials, amongst others,"according to LGC.

Under the terms of the deal, Quotient and LGC have"committed to collaborate as preferred partners on the provision ofBioanalytical Sciences," and this will reportedly enable clients to continue tobenefit from the early development services offered by the Quotient group,including clinical trials, metabolism and radiolabeling.

For now at least, the Bioanalytical Sciences business willcontinue to trade using the "Quotient" name, even though it is under newownership.

"LGC's focus on complex analytical chemistry, high qualityscience and service delivery make them a natural home for our business," saidDr. Steve Pleasance, managing director of Quotient Bioanalytical Sciences,after the announcement of the acquisition. "Both our organizations havereputations built upon quality and innovation, and LGC's global presence willhelp support the continued growth of services to our customers."

The Quotient deal isn't the only recent expansion news fromLGC, being bracketed by two other significant deals.

Shortly before acquiring Quotient Bioanalytical Sciences,LGC acquired in mid-December the trade and assets of Bio Senate, a supplier ofmicrobiology proficiency testing and reference materials based in Bury, U.K.The business was merged with LGC Standards, a division of LGC Group and aleading global supplier of reference materials and proficiency testing schemes.Bio Senate supplies a range of microbiology proficiency testing schemes focusedon the pharmaceutical, food and water as well as a range of microbiologyreference materials, sterile matrix materials and quality control strains tomore than 700 laboratories worldwide—thus, it is considered highlycomplementary to LGC Standards' existing proficiency testing business.

In mid-January, right after the Quotient deal, LGC widenedits U.S. market share by investing in a genomics laboratory expansion inBeverly, Mass., which is near Boston. This move initiates nucleic acidextraction services from LGC to customers in North America, and does intendedboth to complement exist LGC genotyping services in Berlin and London and toallow improved research and development support to North American researchers.