Overview
- Merck announced on Thursday that it has agreed to acquire Bio‑Techne for $11.3 billion at $73 a share, a 24% premium to the prior close.
- Bio‑Techne stock jumped about 20% in premarket trading after the deal was revealed, while Merck said the transaction should close in late 2026 or early 2027.
- Merck plans to fund the purchase with a mix of cash and debt and reported roughly €2.74 billion in cash on hand from its most recent results.
- The companies expect about €140 million in cost savings to be fully realized by the third year after closing as the firms combine operations and back‑office functions.
- The buy reinforces Merck’s push into advanced biological research and cell and gene therapy, is the first major move under CEO Kai Beckmann, and builds on prior life‑sciences acquisitions that aim to expand tools for drug developers and researchers.