Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based life sciences company Bio-Techne Corporation in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $11.3 billion. The deal marks one of the company’s largest strategic acquisitions in recent years and is aimed at expanding its capabilities across the life sciences value chain.
Under the agreement, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will pay $73 per share in cash for Bio-Techne, representing a 36% premium over the company’s one-month volume-weighted average share price. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Merck’s position in several fast-growing areas of life sciences, including multi-omics, spatial biology, precision diagnostics, cell and gene therapy, and advanced research tools. By combining the complementary strengths of both companies, Merck aims to provide researchers and biopharmaceutical manufacturers with a broader portfolio of technologies and integrated workflow solutions spanning scientific discovery through commercial manufacturing.
Kai Beckmann, Chairman of the Executive Board and Group CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, described the acquisition as a major milestone in the company’s long-term growth strategy. He said Bio-Techne’s innovative technologies, scientific expertise, and differentiated product portfolio align closely with Merck’s focus on delivering advanced solutions across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Beckmann added that combining Bio-Techne’s innovation with Merck’s global manufacturing capabilities and customer reach will position the company to accelerate scientific discovery while creating value for shareholders, customers, and employees.
Jean-Charles Wirth, CEO of Merck’s Life Science business, said the acquisition significantly strengthens the company’s presence in several rapidly expanding scientific fields. According to Wirth, Bio-Techne’s technologies will enhance Merck’s Discovery Solutions, Advanced Solutions, and Process Solutions businesses, enabling the company to better support increasingly complex research and manufacturing workflows.
Founded more than 50 years ago, Bio-Techne has built a strong reputation as a leading provider of life science research tools and analytical technologies. The company is widely recognized for its portfolio of recombinant proteins, cytokines, growth factors, antibodies, immunoassay kits, and molecular biology products that are used by researchers and pharmaceutical developers around the world.
The acquisition also brings several specialized technology platforms into Merck’s portfolio. Among them is ProteinSimple, a leader in automated protein detection and analysis systems that will strengthen Merck’s analytical and bioprocess capabilities. Bio-Techne’s RNAscope technology and related in situ hybridization platforms will further enhance Merck’s presence in spatial biology and precision diagnostics, two areas experiencing rapid growth across biomedical research.
In addition, Bio-Techne has established a strong position in the cell therapy market through its materials, analytical technologies, and process solutions. The company also holds a 19.9% stake in Wilson Wolf Corporation, a manufacturer of cell culture technologies best known for its G-Rex product line. Under an existing agreement, Bio-Techne expects to acquire the remaining ownership of Wilson Wolf after the end of 2027, further strengthening its capabilities in cell therapy manufacturing.
Bio-Techne President and CEO Kim Kelderman said the transaction reflects the company’s decades of innovation in proteomics, spatial biology, and next-generation therapeutics. He noted that joining Merck will provide greater global scale and expanded capabilities, allowing the combined organization to accelerate innovation and help customers address some of the most significant challenges in science and healthcare.
Bio-Techne Chairman Robert V. Baumgartner added that the company’s Board of Directors unanimously concluded the transaction delivers substantial immediate value to shareholders while positioning the business for long-term growth as part of a larger global life sciences organization.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bio-Techne employs more than 3,000 people across 34 locations worldwide and operates 15 manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and China. The company generated more than $1.2 billion in net sales during fiscal year 2025.
Once completed, the acquisition will significantly expand Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s global life sciences portfolio and reinforce its strategy of building integrated platforms that support customers from early-stage research through clinical development and commercial biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The combined organization is expected to deliver broader scientific expertise, enhanced technical capabilities, and greater innovation across the rapidly evolving life sciences industry.