Caliper Life Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: CALP) surged 40.2% to $10.36 a share after PerkinElmer Inc. (NYSE: PKI) said it would buy the maker of genomic-detection technologies for about $600 million, or $10.50 a share, in cash. Volume for the stock topped 26 million shares, where it normally would trade in 403,000 in an average day.

A news release dated September 8 stated that the Hopkinton, MA-based Caliper was being bought by PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment.

The combined technology platforms will expand PerkinElmer’s deep portfolio of solutions and services for global customers including:

• Broader offerings for molecular, cellular, animal and tissue imaging to enable translational medicine research;
• Addition of a world-leading microfluidics platform for genomics and proteomics applications, for improved detection and screening through low sample use and efficiency;
• High-value sample preparation technologies for key scientific workflow areas such as Next Generation DNA Sequencing

Caliper CEO Kevin Hrusovsky, noted in the same release, “We are delighted to become part of PerkinElmer. For 10 years, Caliper has partnered with strategic customers to develop a compelling suite of discovery technologies for broad life science applications.”

Hrusovsky added, “I am excited by both PerkinElmer’s ability to leverage its global reach for the delivery of solutions and the opportunity to accelerate the development of important advances that make a difference in improving human and environmental health. I am confident this is the correct strategic direction at this time for Caliper customers, shareholders and employees, and we are looking forward to becoming part of one of the leading companies in our industry.”

Hrusovsky is anticipated to join the PerkinElmer senior leadership team following the close of the transaction.

The total purchase price represents a premium of 42% for Caliper Life Sciences shareholders, relative to the closing price of $7.39 on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, the last trading day prior to today’s announcement.
Caliper Life Sciences is a premier provider of cutting-edge technologies enabling researchers in the life sciences industry to create life-saving and enhancing medicines and diagnostic tests more quickly and efficiently.