Merck KGaA Sells Electronic
Chemicals Business to BASF for EUR 270 Million BASF release
Merck EC business, with about 600
employees, will transfer to BASF
Merck to continue Darmstadt EC
production for three years
Merck KGaA announced today that it sold its worldwide
Electronic Chemicals business to BASF AG of Ludwigshafen for EUR 270 million in order to focus on its
innovation-driven businesses of pharmaceuticals and chemicals. The transaction is still subject to
approval by antitrust authorities and is expected to close in the
second quarter. This move reflects Merck's business strategy of
"focused diversification," concentrating on
innovation-driven pharmaceutical and chemical businesses with
long-term profitability.
The transaction includes Merck
Electronic Chemicals management, technology and production
facilities in Asia and Europe. Merck KGaA employees in Darmstadt,
who already toll manufacture for Merck Electronic Chemicals, will
remain with Merck and continue to manufacture for BASF for the
next three years. Merck
Electronic Chemicals has operated as a legally independent
company wholly owned by Merck KGaA since January 1, 2003.
"This transaction will be
positive for Merck, its EC employees and also BASF," said
Prof. Thomas Schreckenbach, Merck's Executive Board Member
responsible for Chemicals. "It will allow Merck to focus its
resources on highly innovative chemicals such as liquid crystals,
pigments and specialty reagents. Our employees will transfer to
another well-respected employer. BASF's experience in electronic
chemicals and in the production of large-scale wet chemicals
makes it the ideal partner for this business."
The electronic chemicals business
sold to BASF had sales of EUR 155 million, a 16 percent increase,
during the first nine months of 2004. It supplies the
semiconductor industry with a complete range of ultra-pure
process chemicals and also offers chip manufacturers a variety of
analysis-related services. The electronic chemicals business has
approximately 600 employees, who will transfer to BASF.
The divestiture includes Merck's
production sites and distribution centers for electronic
chemicals in Taiwan; Malaysia; China; France; Singapore, the
Netherlands and Germany.
For a given period of time ー
at the latest until the end of 2005 ー
Merck and BASF will jointly manage
the business in the key Taiwanese market under leadership of
BASF. This is intended as a signal to both customers and
employees that both parties are particularly interested in
ensuring a smooth transition and development of the business.
Following the end of the transition period ー but by no later than the end of 2005 ー
Merck has the right to transfer its
share in the Taiwan operations to BASF.
2005/1/28 BASF
BASF acquires electronic chemicals
business of Merck KGaA
http://www.corporate.basf.com/en/presse/mitteilungen/pm.htm?pmid=1698&id=4P0GY6GCvbcp2lkP-05-093
BASF to become a leading supplier
in fast growing market
Double-digit growth rates in 2004
BASF Aktiengesellschaft,
Ludwigshafen, today acquired the global electronic chemicals
business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt. The purchase price is Euro 270
million. The transaction is still subject to approval by the
regulatory authorities. Closing is expected in the second quarter
of 2005.
In the first nine months of 2004,
Merck increased global sales at its electronic chemicals business
by 16 percent to Euro155 million. The business currently has
about 600 employees.
Through the acquisition of these new
activities, BASF will become a leading supplier of electronic
chemicals for the rapidly growing semiconductor industry and for
the production of flat screens, another area that shows high
growth rates. The business acquired from Merck will help develop
BASF's electronic chemicals business and will significantly
strengthen BASF's market position in Europe and Asia. “This deal supports BASF's strategic goal
of profitable growth and at the same time provides us with a
solid foundation for our future in the electronics industry,“
said Dr. Harald Schwager, head of
the Inorganics division.
“Our customers will benefit from
BASF's expertise in chemistry and production combined with
Merck's experience in purification, formulation and analysis,”
said Dr. Karl-Rudolf Kurtz, head of
BASF’s Electronic Materials
business unit. “By
combining all our electronic chemicals activities, our business
unit provides a platform for our future growth in this innovative
and growing industry,” he
said. “Through this
acquisition, BASF will become a system supplier for the
electronics industry and will be able to supply its customers
with tailor-made solutions.”
The acquisition includes Merck's
production sites and distribution centers for high-purity
chemicals in Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Singapore, France, the
Netherlands and Germany.
For a given period of time - at the
latest until the end of 2005 - Merck and BASF shall jointly
manage the business in the key Taiwanese market under leadership
by BASF. This is intended as a signal to both customers and
employees that both parties are particularly interested in
ensuring a smooth transition and developing the business further.
Following the end of the transition
period - but by no later than the end of 2005 - BASF has the
right to acquire Merck's share in operations in Taiwan.
Electronic chemicals are essential
for the production of semiconductor chips and flat screens. Such
chemicals are extremely pure and are characterized by
above-average growth rates. The global market for electronic
chemicals was worth ?3 billion in 2003 and has grown by an
average of 10 percent per year in recent years.
About Merck:
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and
chemical company with sales of EUR 7.2 billion in 2003, a history
that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 28,300 employees in 56
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
a 74 percent interest and free shareholders own the remaining 26
percent. The
former U.S. subsidiary, Merck & Co., has been completely
independent of the Merck Group since 1917.
2005/03/02 Merck KGaA
独メルク、有機ＥＬの開発・生産事業会社Ｃｏｖｉｏｎ社を５，０００万ユーロで取得
有機ＥＬの開発・生産事業及びポリマーエレクトロニクスの研究開発事業を取得
http://release.nikkei.co.jp/detail.cfm?relID=94782&lindID=4
メルクＫＧａＡ （本社ドイツ ダルムシュタット市、ＣＥＯ ベルンハルド ショイブレ）は英国マンチェスターのAvecia社から同社のポリマーエレクトロニクスの研究開発部門、及びＡｖｅｃｉａ社の子会社で有機ＥＬの研究・開発、生産を行っているＣｏｖｉｏｎ Ｏｒｇａｎｉｃ Ｓｅｍｉｃｏｎｄｕｃｔｏｒｓ ＧｍｂＨ（フランクフルト）を５，０００万ユーロで取得することを決定した。今後取得に必要な手続きを進め、２００５年の第１四半期には取得を完了する。
メルクＫＧａＡのＣＥＯ ベルンハルド ショイブレ博士は「今後暫くの間、液晶はフラットパネルディスプレイ技術の中心的な役割を担うであろう。昨年メルクは世界の液晶市場で、特に液晶テレビの分野での地位を強化した。メルクの将来の活動分野を更に広げるために今回のＡｖｅｃｉａ社からの事業取得は大変有益である。」と述べている。
事業を売却するＡｖｅｃｉａ社ＣＥＯのＪｅｒｅｍｙ Ｓｃｕｄａｍｏｒｅ氏は「メルクは液晶ディスプレイ用有機物質のリーディングサプライヤーであり、Ａｖｅｃｉａ社傘下の２つの事業を引き継ぐ最も理想的な会社である。」と述べている。
Ｃｏｖｉｏｎ社はＡｖｅｃｉａ社とＡｖｅｎｔｉｓ Ｒｅｓｅａｒｃｈ ＆ Ｔｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙにより１９９９年に設立され、その後２００２年にＡｖｅｃｉａ社の１００％子会社となった。２００４年の売上げは約８００万ユーロ。
メルク株式会社はドイツのダルムシュタットに本社を置く、世界的な総合医化学メーカー Ｍｅｒｃｋ ＫＧａＡの日本法人であり、１９６８年に設立、液晶や顔料などの化成品や試薬・分析薬、医薬品などを手がけています。また、Ｍｅｒｃｋ ＫＧａＡは１６６８年に設立され、現在世界５２カ国で事業展開を行っており、グループ従業員総数は２８，９００人。２００４年売上高は約５９億ユーロ。
2006/9/21
Merck
Merck KGaA
Announces Acquisition of Serono SA
・Transaction
transforms Merck Ethicals
・Merck pays CHF
1,100 per share in cash
・Merck holds
64.5% of Serono capital and 75.5% of the voting rights
・Public tender
offer of CHF 1,100 per share
Merck KGaA
announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the
Bertarelli Family, which owns the majority stake of Serono SA, to purchase their Serono shares
to create a strategically compelling combination with the size to
compete in the global pharmaceutical market.
Subject to
antitrust review and closing of the purchase, Merck holds 64.5%
of the capital of Serono and 75.5% of the voting rights, for
which Merck agreed to pay CHF 1,100 per share in cash. Merck will
make a public tender offer under Swiss law for the same price of
CHF 1,100 per share. The offer price represents a 20% premium to
the share price as of September 20, 2006, and a total equity
value of CHF 16.6 billion (approximately EUR 10.6 billion) on a
fully diluted basis.
“This acquisition
transforms Merck’s Pharmaceuticals business and
creates a leading position in the world of biologic medicines,
which helps to ensure its future through the 21st century,”
said Michael
Roemer, Chairman of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA. “Both companies have a unique
opportunity to achieve a competitive advantage through a combined
EUR 1 billion R&D budget and a stronger product portfolio.
The companies are a perfect fit with 28 compounds in development.
Together with Serono management and employees, we will create a
world-class biopharmaceutical company with global footprint,
cutting-edge biotechnology manufacturing and strong growth.”
Ernesto Bertarelli
said: “With this transaction we create a
combined business with strong capabilities, especially in
neurology and oncology. Together with Serono, Merck will be a
world-class biotechnology company and a major player in the
global pharmaceutical market. This match will allow Serono’s innovative biotech abilities to
play an important role in the future of the combined company
while expanding its global reach.”
Strategic Rationale
Together with
Serono, Merck achieves:
・Critical mass in
R&D with an annual budget of approximately EUR 1 billion
・R&D
capabilities greater than the sum of the parts
・Market-leading
Multiple Sclerosis franchise to broaden business portfolio
・Expanded
geographic reach and access to the U.S. market
・World-class
biotechnology manufacturing
Merck-Serono
Biopharmaceuticals
Merck’s Pharma Ethicals division will be
combined with Serono to create “Merck-Serono Biopharmaceuticals.”
The headquarters of
this business will be in Geneva, Switzerland. Merck-Serono
Biopharmaceuticals’ U.S. headquarters will be in
Boston, MA. Based on 2005 figures, the new Merck Group would have
pro-forma sales of EUR 7.7 billion, including EUR 3.6 billion in
biopharmaceutical sales. The Merck Group will have a total number
of about 35,000 employees. Merck's successful business model of
competing in both pharmaceuticals and chemicals will remain in
place and be strengthened by this combination.
メルクは今年３月に独シェーリングの買収に乗り出したが、独バイエルがシェーリングと事業統合することになり、失敗した。セローノの買収により、バイエル・シェーリング連合に対抗する。
http://www.fertilityasia.jp/japan/about/index.jsp
セローノは、全世界で従業員4,900人のバイオテクノロジー業界最大手企業です。現在8種類のバイオテクノロジー製品を販売し、30件以上の進行中の開発プロジェクトがあります。特に次の4種の治療分野を中心に製品を販売しています。
・不妊治療…セローノは不妊治療の分野におけるグローバルリーダーです。
・神経治療… セローノのRebif(R) は、米国・日本以外において再発性多発硬化症の主要治療薬です。（日本では未承認です）
・発育・代謝関連… 小児・成人の成長不全やAIDSによる消耗疾患に対する治療薬を販売しています。
・皮膚科関連 中度〜重度の乾癬治療用Raptiva(R)の承認をもって、新しい治療エリアに進出していきます。（日本では未承認です）
http://www.serono.com/index.html