Merck KGaA Completes Millipore Acquisition and Launches New Merck Millipore Division


On October 11th, 2010, Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Merck Executive Board, announced in Shanghai that Merck KGaA, the global pharmaceutical and chemical company, has successfully completed its acquisition of Millipore Corporation, a leading Life Science company based in Billerica, Massachusetts, USA, for an aggregate purchase price including debt and cash of approximately EUR 5.2 billion (US$ 7.0 billion).
   Merck agreed to acquire Millipore on February 28th, 2010 for US$107 in cash per share of Millipore common stock. The closing follows the approval of the acquisition by Millipore's shareholders at a special meeting held on June 3rd, 2010 and the satisfaction of other customary conditions, including antitrust clearance in the United States and Europe. Merck will now begin the process of de-listing the shares of Millipore from the New York Stock Exchange and removing the shares from registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
    With 10 000 employees in 64 countries, Merck Millipore will be headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts of USA, and supported by locations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific, including China.
    "We will now move quickly to bring together the expertise and complementary capabilities of both Merck and Millipore employees to capture the significant opportunities in the high-growth, high-margin market segments such as bio-research and bio-production," said Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, "In China, Merck Millipore will enhance cooperation with China's scientific research institution to develop new products for our customers. China is really very crucial market for Merck. It is predicted that in 2010, Merck could reach total revenue of EUR 240 million in China, EUR 175 million for pharmaceuticals business and EUR 65 million for Chemicals business."
   Actually, Merck initiated its business in China at as early as 1900. Nowadays, Merck products are enjoying an increasing popularity with the Chinese people, especially the major products pearl luster pigments, laboratory reagents, high-tech chemicals for LCDs and OLEDs and active ingredients for decorative and personal care cosmetics. Besides, Merck also has its Pharmaceutical and Consumer Health Care operations in China.
    Millipore is a Life Science leader providing cutting-edge technologies, tools and services for bioscience research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.  Millipore entered into China market in 1980s, which has opened offices in Beijing, Chengdu, Hongkong and Guangzhou, it enrolled as Millipore China Company Ltd. in 1987. Millipore (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. was then founded in year 2000.