Abbott announced a definitive agreement to acquire Starlims Technologies Ltd, a leading provider of laboratory information management systems, for approximately US$ 123 million in cash.

The acquisition strengthens Abbott's competitive position in the global diagnostics market, providing advanced web-based applications to help laboratories efficiently store, retrieve and analyze a significantly increasing volume of clinical, managerial and administrative data.

"The acquisition of Starlims will provide Abbott with leading products to build upon existing technologies and expertise in the emerging field of healthcare informatics," said Edward L Michael, executive vice president, Diagnostics Products, Abbott. "Starlims' advanced web-based technologies can help our customers operate efficiently across the core laboratory, molecular and point-of care segments of the global diagnostics market."

Healthcare informatics is the application of information management and technology to the planning and delivery of high quality and cost-effective healthcare. Advanced informatics systems are becoming increasingly important to clinical laboratories as a means to automate the retrieval, communication and management of medical and laboratory data and aid compliance with global regulatory and industry standards. Informatics systems can help laboratories improve operating efficiency through process standardization, reduced labor costs and increased capacity. Improved laboratory operations benefit physicians and patients through improved turnaround times and more consistent interpretation of test results.

As Abbott integrates Starlims into its existing portfolio of laboratory information management products, the company will continue to support and expand the non-clinical market segments currently served by Starlims.

"We believe our laboratory information management solutions, which are widely used by government, manufacturing and life sciences organizations, have important applications in clinical laboratories for improving the access, exchange and analysis of patient and technical data," said Itschak Friedman, chief executive officer of Starlims, who will continue to lead the Starlims team after the acquisition closes. "We look forward to becoming a part of Abbott and working together to serve our current customers and expand the availability of our technologies to address unmet needs in laboratories around the world."

Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will acquire all outstanding equity of Sarlims for US$ 14 per share, for a total purchase price of approximately US$ 123 million. Starlims currently has approximately US$ 18 million in cash on hand.

This transaction does not impact Abbott's previously issued ongoing earnings-per-share guidance for 2009 and is subject to customary closing conditions. Abbott expects the transaction to close in the first quarter of 2010.

Starlims Technologies is a leading provider of laboratory information management systems (LIMS), with approximately 160 employees worldwide and more than 20 years of LIMS experience.