- Acquisition strengthens EMD Millipore’s leading position in microbiology industry segment
- Adds world-class capabilities in fast growing Ready-To-Use media and hygiene monitoring franchises for pharmaceutical and other customer segments
BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany, today announced plans to expand its industrial microbiological testing portfolio. This follows Merck KGaA‘s announcement it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the microbiology business of Germany-based Biotest AG. The acquisition will strengthen EMD Millipore’s Biomonitoring business, further enhancing its strong position in the fast growing industrial microbiology testing market.
“With increasing quality standards and regulatory scrutiny, industry demand is quickly shifting to ready-to-use culture media and all-in-one solutions,” said Klaus Bischoff, Head of the Lab Solutions business unit within EMD Millipore. He added: “With the acquisition of the heipha and Hycon product lines we strengthen our product portfolio and acquire a business with a motivated, customer focused workforce, unique know how and state-of-the-art production.”
Biotest AG’s microbiology businesses (heipha Dr. Mueller and Hycon), headquartered in Germany, have approximately 290 employees and sales of approximately EUR 50 million (USD 70 million) in 2010. Their products are primarily used in the pharmaceutical, food & beverage and personal care industries.
“This acquisition is a great strategic fit on many levels. Not only do we expand our portfolio in a critical growth area of RTU media, there are also many synergies in production, product and market development and – important to both companies - customer collaboration,” said Roland Heinrich, Head of EMD Millipore’s Biomonitoring business. “In addition to Ready-to-Use media, it will also add particle counting and strengthen air monitoring in our hygiene monitoring portfolio.”
The agreement is subject to antitrust approvals in Germany and Austria. Closing of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2011.
About EMD Millipore
EMD Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany and offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers' success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, EMD Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science.
Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 67 countries and 2010 revenues of $2.2 billion. EMD Millipore is known as Merck Millipore outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Note: Merck KGaA or Merck shall mean Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
About Merck
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of EUR 9.3 billion in 2010, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by more than 40,000 employees in 67 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.
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EMD Millipore
Karen Marinella Hall, +1 978 715 1567
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