Germany's Merck to buy Bio-Techne for $11.3bn

(Sharecast News) - Germany's Merck KGaA said on Thursday that it has agreed to buy Minneapolis-based biotech company Bio-Techne for around $11.3bn. Under the terms of the deal, Merck will pay $73 per share in cash, which is a 24% premium to Bio-Techne's closing share price on Wednesday.

Bio-Techne is a global life sciences company headquartered that company provides high quality reagents, analytical instruments, and precision diagnostics, Merck said. Its portfolio is organised into three customer focused brands: R&D Systems, Bio Techne Spatial and Bio Techne Diagnostics.

The company operates in 34 locations worldwide and employs more than 3,000 people. In fiscal year 2025, it generated more than $1.2bn in net sales.

Merck chairman and chief executive Kai Beckmann said: "This transaction is an important milestone towards delivering on our mid- to long-term strategic agenda. Bio-Techne is an outstanding fit that directly supports our strategic direction focused on delivering cutting-edge products and solutions across the entire industry value chain - from lab customers to those manufacturing in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

"By combining Bio-Techne's scientific depth, innovation engine and differentiated portfolio with the global scale, manufacturing excellence and customer reach of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, we are in a strong position to address some of the most important opportunities in life sciences and support our customers in accelerating the next generation of scientific discovery and therapeutic innovation. This positions us to deliver compelling strategic and financial benefits for shareholders, customers and employees."

At 1717 BST, Bio-Techne shares were up 19.8% at $70.56.