Merck Germany Pursues $15 Billion Acquisition of U.S. Life Sciences Equipment Company

Bio-Techne Corp (NASDAQ: TECH) announced on June 25 that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Germany’s Merck KGaA for $73 per share in cash. The transaction values the company at about $11.3 billion (approximately KRW 15 trillion), representing a 36% premium to its one-month average share price. With approval from both companies’ boards, the deal is slated to close between late 2026 and early 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Merck plans to fund the acquisition with existing cash reserves and new debt, expects immediate contributions to revenue and margins, and anticipates cost synergies of around €140 million (roughly KRW 200 billion) annually within three years.

In its recent filings and corporate presentations, Bio-Techne described itself as a global life sciences tools supplier that achieved over $1.2 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025. The company has been actively restructuring its product portfolio and pursuing operational efficiencies. It also intends to maintain its dividend payout ratio while reinforcing its medium- to long-term growth prospects through the divestiture of non-core assets.

Headquartered in Minnesota, USA, Bio-Techne supplies protein reagents, diagnostic and analytical instruments, and tools for cell and gene therapy research to research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms worldwide. Merck KGaA, which has been expanding its life sciences business alongside its pharmaceuticals and electronic materials divisions, is expected to strengthen its offerings in research and diagnostic reagents, multi-omics solutions, and cell and gene therapy manufacturing tools with this acquisition, thereby enhancing its position in the global life sciences market.