Waters Corporation's Strategic Move in Life Sciences
Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) has officially integrated with BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions businesses, marking a significant milestone in the fields of life sciences and diagnostics. This merger, announced on February 9, 2026, creates a powerful global entity at the forefront of industry innovation, set to enhance high-volume testing capabilities in regulated markets that prove essential in healthcare today.
What This Merger Means
The strategic combination allows Waters to leverage BD’s extensive capabilities, including best-in-class technologies and established financial prospects. According to Dr. Udit Batra, President and CEO of Waters, this merger represents a confluence of scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology, perfect for addressing the unmet needs within the health sector.
Waters has formed four distinct divisions that will serve different aspects of life sciences:
- - Waters Analytical Sciences focuses on advanced analytical tools and services that assist in separations science and molecular characterization. This includes the development of liquid chromatography instruments and mass spectrometry technologies.
- - Waters Biosciences encompasses offerings related to cellular analysis, specifically through innovations in flow cytometry and single-cell multiomics.
- - Waters Advanced Diagnostics is built around diagnostic workflows, providing cutting-edge microbiology and molecular microbial testing solutions in regulated clinical environments.
- - Waters Materials Sciences specializes in materials characterization techniques vital for applications in batteries, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
The new setup aligns with Waters' continued emphasis on high-growth markets, evidencing a commitment to improving global health and testing environments.
Leadership and Future Directions
Alongside the merger announcement, Waters has appointed Dr. Claire M. Fraser to its Board of Directors, raising the board's strength to eleven members. Dr. Fraser brings three decades of experience in genomics and molecular diagnostics and previously directed the Institute for Genome Sciences at the University of Maryland. Her expertise is expected to significantly enrich the board as the company navigates this transformative phase.
Waters’ Chairman, Dr. Flemming Ørnskov, emphasized the value of Dr. Fraser's scientific background, citing her extensive knowledge as beneficial for overseeing Waters’ forthcoming growth initiatives and value creation strategies.
Transaction Logistics
This merger was executed through a Reverse Morris Trust transaction, resulting in BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions businesses merging with a Watters subsidiary. Ultimately, Waters shareholders received 60.8% of the newly combined entity, confirming significant investment and belief in successful integration following this merger.
The Path Forward
With this merger finalized, Waters is poised to improve high-volume testing services that meet strict regulatory standards. Their combined expertise is aimed at developing new therapeutics and ensuring the safety of food, water, and patient care, which will contribute to combating global health challenges like infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance.
By pooling resources and expertise, Waters and BD create a formidable platform positioned for innovation, capacity-building, and addressing urgent global health needs.
For more detailed updates on Waters Corporation’s innovative directions, please visit
Waters official website.