Merck Millipore Buys Industrial Microbiology Business
Merck stated that the business will add to its existing dehydrated cell culture media and testing systems product lines, which are primarily used in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and personal care industries. The transaction includes the acquisition of two German production sites and subsidiaries in Germany, the US, France and Japan.
Billerica, MA 3/22/11; Darmstadt, Germany 3/22/11; Dreieich, Germany 3/22/11—Merck Millipore/EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA, has agreed to acquire Biotest AG’s Microbiological Monitoring business for an undisclosed amount. The business consists of Hycon hygiene-monitoring products and heipha Dr. Müller GmbH microbiological culture media and microbiological test systems. The business has 290 employees and generated 2010 sales of €48.7 million ($64.1 million = €0.76 = $1). “With increasing quality standards and regulatory scrutiny, industry demand is quickly shifting to ready-to-use culture media and all-in-one solutions,” stated Klaus Bischoff, head of EMD Millipore’s Lab Solutions business unit. The acquisition will join EMD Millipore’s Biomonitoring business, part of the Lab Solutions business unit. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2011.
