Merck KGaA to Acquire Bio-Techne for $11.3 Billion, Expanding Life Sciences Portfolio
The all-cash offer of $73 per share represents a significant premium for the Minneapolis-based life sciences tool provider, marking a major strategic move for the German science and technology company.
German science and technology company Merck KGaA announced on Thursday, June 25, that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bio-Techne Corporation, a U.S.-based provider of life science tools and technologies. The all-cash transaction is valued at an enterprise value of approximately $11.3 billion.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck KGaA will acquire all outstanding shares of Bio-Techne for $73 per share. This price represents a 36% premium over Bio-Techne's one-month volume-weighted average trading price and a 25% premium to its closing price of $58.88 on June 24, 2026.
Following the announcement, shares of Minneapolis-based Bio-Techne surged. The stock price increased by nearly 20% on June 25, closing around $70.50 as investors reacted to the news. The deal has been approved by Bio-Techne's Board of Directors and is expected to close by late 2026 or early 2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Strategic Expansion in High-Growth Markets
This acquisition is Merck KGaA's largest since its $17 billion purchase of Sigma-Aldrich in 2015 and is the first major deal under CEO Kai Beckmann, who took the helm in May 2026. The move is part of a strategy to bolster the company's life sciences division, which accounted for approximately €8.98 billion in sales in 2025.
Bio-Techne develops and manufactures life science reagents, instruments, and diagnostic tools, reporting over $1.2 billion in net sales for the 2025 fiscal year. The acquisition is expected to enhance Merck KGaA's capabilities in high-growth areas such as cell and gene therapy, spatial biology, and automated protein analysis. Officials noted that the two companies' portfolios are highly complementary.
Merck KGaA stated it expects to achieve annual cost synergies of around €140 million by the third year after the deal's completion. The acquisition will be financed through a combination of existing cash and new debt.
Sources
- Merck KgaA inks $11B Bio-Techne buyout to expand into cell therapy production
- Merck KGaA to buy Bio-Techne for $11.3bn in life science footprint expansion
- Merck KGaA charts biggest deal in 10+ years with Bio-Techne buy
- Merck Agrees to Acquire Bio-Techne, Strengthening Leadership Position in Fast-Growing Life Sciences Markets
- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Agrees to Acquire Bio-Techne, Strengthening Leadership Position in Fast-Growing Life Sciences Markets
- Merck KGaA makes largest deal in a decade in $11.3B buy for Bio-Techne
- Merck buys life sciences firm Bio-techne in $11.3bn deal
- Merck KGaA: Merck Agrees to Acquire Bio-Techne Corporation | Ad-hoc
- Bio-Techne (TECH) Sees Significant Price Surge
- Stock Market Today, June 25: Bio-Techne Surges After Merck KGaA Announces $73-Per-Share Cash Acquisition Offer
- Merck to acquire Bio-Techne in M&A move with Multiomics consequences
- Merck KGaA bolsters life sciences business with $11.3B Bio-Techne buy
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