Bio-Techne, a Minneapolis-based provider of life sciences tools, reagents, and diagnostic products, has announced that its shareholders have approved the company’s proposed acquisition by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The approval, obtained at a special shareholder meeting on September 23, 2026, represents a significant milestone toward completing the transaction. The companies also confirmed that the applicable U.S. antitrust waiting period expired on September 18. The acquisition remains subject to outstanding regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with completion expected by late 2026 or early 2027.
Bio-Techne shareholders voted to approve and adopt the definitive merger agreement under which Merck KGaA proposes to acquire the company.
The final voting results, as certified by an independent inspector of elections, will be disclosed through a Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition to shareholder approval, the transaction has cleared another U.S. regulatory milestone.
The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 18, 2026.
The expiration removes the applicable U.S. antitrust waiting-period requirement but does not represent completion of the transaction. The acquisition still requires the remaining regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other closing conditions.
Bio-Techne expects the transaction to close toward the end of 2026 or in early 2027.
The proposed acquisition would combine Bio-Techne’s life sciences tools, reagents, analytical instruments, and diagnostic products with Merck KGaA’s existing life science capabilities.
The companies intend to serve customers across a broad range of scientific activities, from early-stage research and discovery through translational research, drug development, testing, and commercial manufacturing.
Bio-Techne provides products and technologies used by academic researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, biotechnology businesses, and clinical diagnostic laboratories.
Its portfolio includes more than 500,000 products, supporting scientific research, therapeutic development, and clinical testing.
The company’s operations are organized around three customer-focused brands: R&D Systems, Bio-Techne Spatial, and Bio-Techne Diagnostics.
These businesses provide scientific products and services supporting different stages of research and clinical development.
R&D Systems supplies reagents and other tools for biological research, while Bio-Techne Spatial focuses on technologies supporting spatial analysis and translational research.
Bio-Techne Diagnostics provides products and capabilities serving clinical diagnostic applications.
The proposed combination is intended to expand the range of products and services available to customers working across these scientific and clinical disciplines.
Bio-Techne operates in 34 locations worldwide and employs more than 3,000 people.
In fiscal year 2025, the company generated more than $1.2 billion in net sales.
The transaction comes as Bio-Techne marks its 50th anniversary and prepares to join Merck KGaA’s broader life sciences organization.
For Merck KGaA, the proposed acquisition represents an opportunity to expand its offerings to scientific and pharmaceutical customers through Bio-Techne’s established portfolio of research products and diagnostic technologies.
The combined businesses would be positioned to support additional stages of the life sciences research and development process.
Completion of the acquisition remains dependent on outstanding regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary conditions.
KEY QUOTE:
“We are grateful to our shareholders for their strong support, which marks an important milestone toward completing the transaction. Joining Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will bring together our complementary and leading life sciences organizations while delivering substantial, near-term cash value to Bio-Techne shareholders. The combined company will be uniquely positioned to support customers across the full spectrum of life science workflows from discovery and translational research through development, testing and commercial manufacturing.”
Kim Kelderman, President and CEO of Bio-Techne
