UK Life Sciences Firm Abcam’s Founder Fights $5.7 Billion Bid

Jonathan Milner, the founder of UK life sciences company Abcam Plc, has fired the starting gun on a campaign to persuade investors to reject a $5.7 billion takeover offer from Danaher Corp.

Milner, who has a 6.1% stake in the Cambridge-based company, has said the $24 a-share offer grossly undervalues Abcam, which sells antibodies used in scientific research.

He has written to shareholders Thursday to invite them to vote against the deal. Milner, who stepped down as deputy chair in 2020, wants to return to the company as full time chief executive officer, replacing Alan Hirzel. He ...