Merck KGaA has announced that it has agreed to buy Sigma-Aldrich for $140 per share in cash, or a total of $17 billion.
Merck KGaA has announced that it has agreed to buy Sigma-Aldrich for $140 per share in cash, or a total of $17 billion. The purchase will expand the reach of Merck’s EMD Millipore chemical and equipment division, “increasing the company’s presence in North America and adding exposure to fast-growing Asian markets,” according to a press release from EMD. Sigma-Aldrich is a life-sciences company that specializes in products used in scientific R&D in fields such as biotechnology, genomics, and pharmaceuticals.
Merck said the transaction will be immediately accretive to Merck KGaA, and Sigma-Aldrich will become part of Millipore. The acquisition is touted to be the largest in Merck’s history.
Merck Chairman of the Executive Board Karl-Ludwig Kley said in an interview that with this acquisition, Merck is doubling its business earnings for the academia and lab markets. “Currently we are under-represented in the US and with the strong presence of Sigma-Aldrich in the US market, we’ll have a size which really allows us to take products and service to the customer throughout this great country.”
The transaction is expected to close by mid-2015. Merck expects annual synergies of about €260 million (approximately $333 million), which should be fully achieved within three years after closing, pending regulatory approval.
The Weight-Loss Gold Rush: Legal and Regulatory Implications
July 11th 2024Jim Shehan, chair of the FDA Regulatory practice, Lowenstein Sandler, discusses how the FDA and other regulators likely to respond to the increased public interest and potential off-label use of GLP-1 drugs, what needs to be done for GLP-1s to be covered, advice for investors and financiers considering entering the weight-loss medication market and more.
Healthcare Marketing Strategies for Reaching Diverse Audiences
May 14th 2024Amanda Powers-Han, Chief Marketing Officer, Greater Than One, and Pharmaceutical Executive Editorial Advisory Board member, discusses how improved DE&I in healthcare marketing strategies can not only reach diverse audiences more effectively but also contribute to improved patient care outcomes, challenges faced in crafting culturally sensitive messages, and much more.