Merck KGaA Acquires Bio-Techne for $11.3 Billion in Life Sciences Expansion
Germany's Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire U.S.-based Bio-Techne Corporation for $11.3 billion ($73 per share, a 36% premium). The deal aims to strengthen Merck's life sciences division by adding Bio-Techne's reagents, diagnostics, and drug discovery tools, reducing Merck's reliance on drug sales. Bio-Techne employs 3,100 people globally with $1.2 billion in fiscal 2025 sales. It is Merck's largest acquisition since 2015 under new CEO Kai Beckmann, funded by cash and debt, pending regulatory approval and expected to close by early 2027.
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Merck KGaA to acquire Bio-Techne in $11.3 billion deal
German life sciences and chemicals company Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire Bio-Techne Corporation, a Minneapolis-based life-sciences tools supplier, for $73 per share in cash, giving an enterprise value of approximately $11.3 billion. The offer represents a 36% premium to Bio-Techne's one-month volume weighted average trading price. Bio-Techne stock rose about 20% in premarket trading. The acquisition adds Bio-Techne's ProteinSimple and RNAscope technologies to Merck's life science portfolio, while also including a 19.9% stake in Wilson Wilson Corp. Merck expects to generate about 140 million euros in annual savings within three years after closing. The deal, led by new CEO Kai Beckmann, requires regulatory approval and a Bio-Techne shareholder vote, with completion expected by early 2027. The purchase will be funded through a mix of cash and new debt. It is Merck's largest deal since the roughly $17 billion Sigma-Aldrich acquisition over ten years ago.
Yahoo FinanceMerck KGaA to Acquire Bio-Techne for $11.3 Billion in Life Science Expansion
Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire Bio-Techne Corporation for $11.3 billion, paying $73 per share (a 36% premium to the one-month volume-weighted average price). The deal is part of Merck's strategy to expand its life sciences footprint and reduce reliance on drug sales. Bio-Techne, a US-based life science company with 3,100 employees and $1.2bn in fiscal 2025 net sales, provides reagents, instruments, and diagnostics. This is the first major acquisition under new CEO Kai Beckmann, who signaled increased M&A focus. The deal is one of the largest in pharma this year, following recent big moves by Sun Pharma and GSK.
Yahoo FinanceMerck KGaA to acquire Bio-Techne for $11.3 billion in life science expansion
Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire Bio-Techne Corporation for $11.3 billion, paying $73 per share — a 36% premium to the one-month volume-weighted average and a 25% premium to the last close. The deal is one of the largest by a drugmaker in 2026 and represents Merck's biggest acquisition since the $17 billion Sigma-Aldrich purchase in 2015. Bio-Techne, a US-based life sciences company with a global footprint and 3,100 employees, supplies reagents, instruments, and diagnostics used in drug development. The acquisition marks the first major move under new CEO Kai Beckmann, who noted Merck's pipeline as slim and emphasized M&A as a priority. The deal aligns with Merck's strategy to expand its life science footprint and reduce reliance on marketed drugs. The announcement follows a strong Q1 2026 for US pharma M&A, with values exceeding $65 billion.
Yahoo FinanceMerck KGaA to acquire Bio-Techne for $11.3 billion in life sciences expansion
Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire Bio-Techne Corporation, a US-based life sciences company, for $11.3 billion. Under the deal, Merck will pay $73 per Bio-Techne share, a 36% premium to the one-month volume-weighted average price. Bio-Techne, which employs about 3,100 people across 34 global locations, specializes in life science reagents, analytical instruments, and clinical diagnostics, generating over $1.2 billion in net sales in fiscal 2025. The acquisition is Merck's largest since its $17 billion purchase of Sigma-Aldrich in 2015 and is the first major deal under new CEO Kai Beckmann, who took over in September 2025. Merck aims to bolster its life science offerings across the entire R&D-to-commercial value chain and reduce reliance on drug sales. The deal reflects a broader trend of large cross-border pharma M&A, with Q1 2026 US deal values exceeding $65 billion.
Yahoo FinanceGermany's Merck to Acquire Bio-Techne in $11.3 Billion Deal
Germany's Merck KGaA has announced a $11.3 billion acquisition of U.S.-based life sciences company Bio-Techne Corp. The deal, valued at $73 per share in cash, represents a premium of 24% to 36% over recent trading averages. The acquisition aims to strengthen Merck's life sciences division, particularly in drug discovery tools, diagnostic technologies, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing support. Merck plans to fund the transaction through existing cash reserves and newly issued debt. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent, with completion expected in late 2026 or early 2027. This is Merck's largest acquisition since its $17 billion purchase of Sigma-Aldrich in 2015 and the first major transaction under new CEO Kai Beckmann. Analysts anticipate cost synergies of approximately €140 million annually after integration.
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