A High-Profile Break Up
Executive Summary
The termination of PE Biosystem Group's acquisition of Third Wave Technologies has sprouted a number of unfounded rumors. But the reason seems to be what the companies initially said it was: A Department of Justice review of the merger for antitrust violations was taking longer than expected. With no end in sight to it and an uncertain outcome, the companies were losing business opportunities in a fast-moving field. Rather, they decided to continue to work together in an alliance, and have already established a joint venture that is one of the world's largest production facilities of oligonucleotides.