Merck KGaA receives European clearance for $17 billion Sigma-Aldrich purchase

Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) has received clearance from the European Commission to acquire USA-based life science company Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL).

The clearance, subject to certain conditions, follows the antitrust approvals in Japan and China. The company has already secured this clearance from the USA, Taiwan, South Africa, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine. The two companies have agreed to sell parts of Sigma-Aldrich’s solvents and inorganics business in Europe.

Merck is working towards a mid-2015 completion date of the $17 billion transaction, which remains subject to certain other conditions, such as antitrust clearances in Brazil and clearance from the competition authorities of Israel and Korea.