Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE:TMO), a leading global supplier of laboratory instruments and services, announced today that it has acquired Laboratory Management Systems, Inc. (LMSi) of New Castle, Delaware. LMSi is a supplier of regulatory instrument and consulting services to the pharmaceutical and related industries, and generated revenues of $11 million during its 2003 fiscal year. In its nine-year history, LMSi has been ranked three times on Inc. magazine’s annual “Inc. 500” list of America’s fastest-growing private companies.

LMSi specializes in performing instrument and computer systems validation,metrology, and certification, as well as a range of associated consultingservices. The company has developed a broad portfolio of analytical instrument validation protocols and operating procedures that enable laboratories to comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements.

“This acquisition is an important step in our strategy to offercustomers comprehensive laboratory solutions that include full product support,for almost any instrument, anywhere,” said Marijn E. Dekkers, president andchief executive officer of Thermo Electron. “Adding LMSi’s regulatoryand compliance expertise to our global laboratory service network will allowus to be a regulatory validation and consulting partner to customers whoface increasing productivity, quality, and regulatory challenges.”

Chuck Whitney, a founder of LMSi, remarked, “Combining LMSi’s expertisewith Thermo’s global resources and extensive line of products and servicessignificantly benefits our mutual customers, who are some of the leadingnames in the pharmaceutical industry. Thermo is uniquely positioned tooffer customers unparalleled product breadth and the security of partneringwith a well-recognized global services provider.”