Jan 20 (Reuters) – Qiagen is weighing strategic options, including a potential sale of the diagnostics firm amid fresh takeover interest, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
U.S.-listed shares of the company were up more than 16% in afternoon trade.
The Netherlands-based company is working with advisers as its supervisory board fields preliminary interest from potential suitors, the report said, adding Qiagen has held talks with several possible buyers in recent weeks, including some U.S. strategics.
The company declined to comment on the report.
In recent years, the company has attracted multiple instances of takeover, though the discussions never led to a deal. Deliberations are still at an early stage and there is no certainty that the latest talks will result in a sale, the Bloomberg report said.
Qiagen said in November its Chief Executive Officer Thierry Bernard will leave as soon as a successor is found. His planned departure removes one of the biggest perceived roadblocks to a potential deal, according to some sources cited in the report.
(Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
