Merck KGaA to buy Bio-Techne for $11.3bn in life science footprint expansion

German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire US-based Bio-Techne Corporation for $11.3 billion. Merck will pay $73 per Bio-Techne share, representing a 36% premium to the one-month volume weighted average trading price. Bio-Techne develops and manufactures life science reagents, analytical instruments, and clinical diagnostics, generating over $1.2 billion in net sales in fiscal year 2025. The company employs approximately 3,100 people and operates in 34 locations worldwide. This acquisition is the first under new CEO Kai Beckmann, who took office in September 2025. Merck continues its strategy of expanding its position in the life sciences sector and reducing reliance on pharmaceutical drug sales.