Agilent acquires Cobalt, expanding value for pharma and biopharma

Specialist in analytical laboratory technologies, Agilent Technologies, has acquired Cobalt Light Systems, which develops products and technologies for non-invasive, through-barrier chemical analysis using Raman spectroscopy.

“Raman spectroscopy is one of the fastest-growing segments in spectroscopy,” said Phil Binns, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Spectroscopy and Vacuum Solutions Division. “This acquisition gives our customers access to Raman spectroscopy technology. It also provides Agilent immediate entry into this fast-growing segment with a highly competitive, differentiated offering.”

“This is exactly the type of acquisition that Agilent’s strategy calls for — one that expands our market share and provides immediate benefits to our customers,” said Patrick Kaltenbach, president of Agilent’s Life Sciences and Applied Markets Group. “We’re focused on delivering best-in-class solutions to our customers, and Cobalt’s Raman spectroscopy product and team meet and exceed that criterion.”

“Cobalt and Agilent have similar cultures focused on customer-centric innovation,” Cobalt CEO Paul Loeffen said. “The combination of Cobalt’s patented technologies with Agilent’s product-development expertise, manufacturing capabilities, channels and customer base will allow us to scale our operations to take advantage of this rapidly growing market.”

The acquisition has been made for £40 million in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, most of Cobalt’s current 52 employees will join Agilent, with Cobalt’s CEO becoming the director of Raman Spectroscopy. The Oxford site will be Agilent’s global center for Raman spectroscopy.

Cobalt’s suite of benchtop and handheld/portable Raman spectroscopic instruments are based on proprietary technologies that enable through-barrier identification of chemicals and materials. By enabling measurement through opaque barriers and surfaces, these solutions can analyse whole tablets or inside sealed containers reducing the need for quarantines and sample processing and testing in pharmaceutical QC, hazardous chemical ID and security. Recently, the company entered the hazardous substances market with its handheld platform.