Merck Millipore completes acquisition of Biotest AG’s microbiology business

Merck Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the microbiology business of Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany. All relevant authorities approved the sale of Biotest’s woldwide Microbiological Monitoring business activities, which consist of the product portfolio of Hycon (hygiene monitoring based in Dreieich) and the product portfolio of heipha Dr. Müller GmbH (microbiological culture media and microbiological test systems, based in Eppelheim, Germany) to Merck. Merck and Biotest today closed the transaction, which was agreed upon in March 2011.

The acquired businesses will add to Merck Millipore’s existing dehydrated cell-culture media and testing systems, the so called “ready-to-use” culture media and instruments. The products are primarily used in the pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and personal-care industries.

The acquisition allows the Merck Millipore division to complement its product portfolio in the attractive growth segment industrial microbiology for contamination detection.

The acquired activities will be integrated into Merck Millipore’s Lab Solutions business unit.

“With the microbiology business of Biotest we acquire a business with a motivated, customer-oriented workforce, unique know-how and state-of-the-art production facilities in a strongly growing segment,” said Klaus Bischoff, Head of the Lab Solutions business unit within Merck Millipore. “I am excited that we could close the deal in such a short time and I warmly welcome each of the 300 new colleagues.”

“Through this acquisition we expand our portfolio and there are also many synergies in production, product and market development and – important to both companies – customer collaboration,” said Roland Heinrich, Head of Merck 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.”