Merck announced the completion of its $ 17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich. The new business will be named Merck all across the world, except for the U.S. and Canada. Here the business will be named MilliporeSigma.

Merck has made acquisitions and divestments totaling € 38 billion in the past decade. By this the company turned the former pharma and chemicals company into a science and technology company with three businesses in healthcare, life science, and performance materials.

Following the acquisition, Merck will have around 50,000 employees in 67 countries, working at 72 manufacturing sites worldwide. Combined pro forma full-year life science sales amounted to € 4.6 billion in 2014. The company expects sales to amount to between € 12.6 billion and € 12.8 billion in 2015.

Sigma-Aldrich’s SAFC Commercial business, excluding the SAFC Hitech business, will be part of Merck’s Life Science business sector. The SAFC Hitech business will be integrated into Merck’s Performance Materials business and will operate as part of its Integrated Circuits business unit.

• Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany