06.18.15
Merck announced that the European Commission has approved its planned acquisition of U.S.-based life science company Sigma-Aldrich.
The EU clearance, which is subject to certain conditions, follows the recent antitrust approvals in Japan (JFTC) and by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). In addition, Merck has already secured antitrust clearance from the U.S., Taiwan, South Africa, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.
“Those approvals are very important as we’re working toward completing the acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich, and we remain excited about the transformational opportunities this acquisition will create for Merck in life science,” said Bernd Reckmann, member of the Executive Board of Merck.
As part of the EU commitments, Merck and Sigma-Aldrich have agreed to sell parts of Sigma-Aldrich’s solvents and inorganics business in Europe. These include its manufacturing assets in Seelze, Germany, where most of the solvents and inorganics sold by Sigma-Aldrich in Europe are manufactured. In addition, the divestiture of solvents and inorganics sold by Sigma-Aldrich worldwide under the Fluka, Riedel-de-Haen and Hydranal brands as well as a temporary license to the Sigma-Aldrich brand for the supply of solvents and inorganics in the European Economic Area have been agreed.
Based on the recent clearances, Merck said it will continue to work toward a mid-2015 completion of the transaction as detailed on the occasion of Merck’s first-quarter earnings release on May 19, 2015.
On Sept. 22, 2014, Merck and Sigma-Aldrich announced that they entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire Sigma-Aldrich for $17.0 billion (€13.1 billion), establishing one of the leading players in the $130 billion global life science industry.
Once it has been completed, the combined company will be able to serve life science customers around the world with a set of established brands and an efficient supply chain that can support the delivery of more than 300,000 products.
The EU clearance, which is subject to certain conditions, follows the recent antitrust approvals in Japan (JFTC) and by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). In addition, Merck has already secured antitrust clearance from the U.S., Taiwan, South Africa, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.
“Those approvals are very important as we’re working toward completing the acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich, and we remain excited about the transformational opportunities this acquisition will create for Merck in life science,” said Bernd Reckmann, member of the Executive Board of Merck.
As part of the EU commitments, Merck and Sigma-Aldrich have agreed to sell parts of Sigma-Aldrich’s solvents and inorganics business in Europe. These include its manufacturing assets in Seelze, Germany, where most of the solvents and inorganics sold by Sigma-Aldrich in Europe are manufactured. In addition, the divestiture of solvents and inorganics sold by Sigma-Aldrich worldwide under the Fluka, Riedel-de-Haen and Hydranal brands as well as a temporary license to the Sigma-Aldrich brand for the supply of solvents and inorganics in the European Economic Area have been agreed.
Based on the recent clearances, Merck said it will continue to work toward a mid-2015 completion of the transaction as detailed on the occasion of Merck’s first-quarter earnings release on May 19, 2015.
On Sept. 22, 2014, Merck and Sigma-Aldrich announced that they entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire Sigma-Aldrich for $17.0 billion (€13.1 billion), establishing one of the leading players in the $130 billion global life science industry.
Once it has been completed, the combined company will be able to serve life science customers around the world with a set of established brands and an efficient supply chain that can support the delivery of more than 300,000 products.
