Lonza agrees to buy five US CDMO sites from Merck
MRK•Lonza agreed to acquire five US contract development and manufacturing sites from Merck in a cash deal valued at a low- to mid-triple-digit millions of Swiss francs. The sites are expected to generate around CHF 250 million in 2028 sales, and the deal is expected to close in mid-2027.
1. Deal expands US network
The acquisition will expand Lonza’s US network from four sites to nine, with about 1,100 employees transferring to Lonza. The company said the sites will expand its bioconjugate and viral vector capabilities, and that their CORE EBITDA margin will be below the group’s.
2. Expected closing
The cash transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to customary conditions. Lonza said it will fund the deal with cash on hand and existing credit facilities; its US workforce will rise to more than 6,000.
