NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Life Technologies today announced the acquisition of South Korean instrument distributor Life Science Korea for an undisclosed amount.
Based in Seoul, LSK has been Life Tech's primary instrument distributor since 1994, Life Tech said, adding that LSK has the rights to distribute Applied Biosystems' products, such as next-generation sequencers, Sanger sequencers, and forensics and PCR products.
The purchase will further Life Tech's efforts to build its brand in South Korea and leverage that country's focus on developing its biotechnology industry, the Carlsbad, Calif.-based firm, which is being acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific, said.
"The acquisition of LSK is in line with our go-direct strategy in South Korea and builds on our current capabilities and platforms in this important market," Mark Smedley, president of Life Technologies, Asia Pacific Japan region, said in a statement. "The combination of Life Technologies Korea and LSK — bolstered by our recent acquisition of consumables distributor KDR — enables us to offer one channel to serve the many different needs of our South Korean customers and to create a superior purchasing experience."
Life Tech bought KDR Biotech, a Korean reagents distributor, in April.
LSK serves more than 1,000 customers in academia, government, the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, hospitals, and applied markets. The LSK name will become part of Life Technologies Korea.