Lonza agreed on 3 November 2026 to acquire the US contract development and manufacturing network of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, adding five sites and about 1,100 employees at an undisclosed enterprise value that the Swiss group put in the low- to mid-triple-digit millions of francs.
Why Lonza Group AG is buying Merck KGaA's US CDMO network (five sites)
The sites add clinical and commercial capabilities in bioconjugates, high-potency payload-linkers, viral vectors and lipid nanoparticle, liposome and PEGylated protein solutions, including aseptic fill-finish. Lonza's US CDMO network rises from four to nine sites and its US workforce to more than 6,000. Chief executive Wolfgang Wienand said: "This acquisition is a strong fit with our One Lonza Strategy".
Deal terms and financing
Lonza will fund the purchase from cash and existing credit facilities and expects to keep its BBB+ rating. The sites are expected to contribute about CHF250m of sales in 2028 at a CORE EBITDA margin below the group's. Lonza's 2026 outlook and planned share buyback are unaffected. Merck's BioReliance contract testing business is not part of the sale.
Regulatory approvals and timing
Closing is expected in mid-2027, subject to customary closing conditions.
Market context
For Merck KGaA, the sale concentrates its Life Science portfolio. Lonza previously bought Roche's biologics plant in Vacaville, California, in 2024.
