18
December 2018

LGC reports half year trading in line with expectations

Management confirms that trading is in line with expectations, with good momentum continuing through the second half of the year to 31 March 2019.

Key highlights

Acquisition of ACG (Standards)

In May 2018, LGC’s BRC GS team acquired the Allergen Control Group (ACG), owner and operator of the world’s most rigorous and recognised gluten-free certification program. ACG is based near Ontario, Canada. This acquisition extends LGC’s food safety supply chain assurance standards business into the high growth North American gluten-free market. It also enables ACG to continue to add to its existing strong presence in Canada and the US.

LGC is involved in many allergens-related projects and this acquisition helps the organisation to continue to support customers as they deal with the global challenges of producing safe, high quality products for the end-consumer.

Acquisition of SeraCare Life Sciences (Standards) 

On 26 November 2018, LGC acquired SeraCare Life Sciences, Inc., a manufacturer and leading partner to global in vitro diagnostics manufacturers and clinical laboratories. SeraCare provides quality control materials for infectious disease testing through their ACCURUN® reagents as well as in the fast growing clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS) market, which it addresses through its Seraseq® brand of products for oncology, NIPT and inherited disease testing.

SeraCare’s global customer base includes in vitro diagnostics assay developers and manufacturers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and proficiency providers. The company employs c.170 employees across two sites in Milford, Massachusetts and Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The acquisition of SeraCare substantially builds out LGC’s existing clinical diagnostics presence, adding exposure to the fast growing molecular diagnostics and clinical genomics markets and creating a platform for continued consolidation of the clinical diagnostics measurement tools space (reference materials, controls, calibrators).

Acquisition of M.B.H. Analytical (Standards) 

On 12 December 2018, LGC acquired M.B.H. Analytical Limited, a leading manufacturer of metal alloy reference materials. MBH’s reference materials are used for quality control testing and material validation, including positive materials identification testing, in a wide range of end-markets, including the aerospace, automotive, metal manufacturing and electronics markets. The acquisition increases the breadth of LGC’s metal alloy reference materials portfolio, thereby strengthening its differentiated position as a manufacturer of reference materials for that segment.
 
Acquisition of BioAutomation Corporation (Genomics)

On 27 April 2018, LGC acquired BioAutomation Corporation, manufacturer of the MerMade oligo synthesis instruments, further strengthening its nucleic acid chemistry offering.

LGC acquires Berry & Associates (Genomics)

On 27 September 2018, LGC acquired Berry and Associates, premier supplier of specialty oligo reagents, further strengthening its nucleic acid chemistry offering. Berry and Associates’ products are sold to customers in the pharmaceutical, clinical diagnostics and academic research sectors as well as to oligonucleotide synthesis companies and contract manufacturing organisations.

The acquisitions of Berry and BioAutomation follow LGC’s acquisitions of Biosearch Technologies, Prime Synthesis and LINK Technologies in the oligonucleotide reagent and synthesised oligonucleotides markets.

Julian Braybrook appointed UK Government Chemist

LGC announced on 1 June 2018 that Dr Julian Braybrook has been appointed the UK Government Chemist. He replaces Dr Derek Craston, who completed two terms of five years each in this Office. Derek continues in his role of Chief Scientific Officer for the group.

The Government Chemist is appointed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, overseeing the statutory function of referee analyst, resolving disputes over analytical measurements, particularly in relation to food regulatory enforcement. It is fundamental to providing an independent voice for sound analytical measurement science and preventing miscarriages of justice. The Government Chemist also promotes analytical science and technology and provides advice to Government on policy, standards and regulation based on research carried out by him and his team.

A united brand – Biosearch Technologies™, Mikromol™, Dr Ehrenstorfer™ under the LGC umbrella 

In August 2018, LGC launched the new face of its genomics division, reflecting its evolution over the last few years. The division has grown rapidly to reach customers in more places around the world than ever before, providing the expertise of a dynamic and innovative partner that can truly enable customers to achieve their goals. The Biosearch Technlogies brand enables the division to present its offering in a united and cohesive way to the genomics market.

The launch of the Biosearch Technology brand in genomics follows the relaunch of the Dr Ehrenstorfer and the Mikromol brands in the standards division in 2017 and early 2018, all under the LGC brand.

LGC ranks 54 in Sunday Times’ business standings  

LGC is delighted to rank 54th in The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table. The publication follows LGC’s recent acquisitions, including four this year, and 18.9% sales growth from last year’s report. LGC stands as the highest ranked life sciences company in the league table. The 2018 ranking is an improvement on last year’s rank of 63 and a testament to LGC’s growth, now with more than 40,000 customers in over 150 countries.