Danaher to buy Cepheid in $4 billion deal to expand in diagnostics

(Reuters) - Danaher Corp said on Tuesday it would buy molecular diagnostics company Cepheid in a deal valued at $4 billion, including debt, to strengthen its diagnostics business. Danaher will pay $53 per share in cash, a premium of 54 percent to Cepheid's close of $34.42 on Friday. Danaher, which develops technology for the dental, life sciences, diagnostics and environmental industries, said the addition of Cepheid would improve operational efficiencies and expand margins in its $5 billion diagnostics business.