Manufacturing Daily Summary
Manufacturing Daily Summary: What Happened on November 3, 2026
Lonza expands US footprint with Merck KGaA plant deal
The acquisition would add 1,100 employees and increase Lonza’s US manufacturing locations from four to nine. Closing is expected around mid-2027.
Today in brief
Lonza agreed to acquire five US contract manufacturing facilities from Merck KGaA, at an enterprise valuation in the low-to-mid hundreds of millions of Swiss francs.1 The deal would bring 1,100 employees to Lonza and expand its US manufacturing network to nine locations from four.1
Five sites cover biologics and drug delivery
The St. Louis facility specializes in bioconjugates, and two Wisconsin sites make high-potency payload-linkers.1 The Carlsbad, California, site provides viral-vector services and aseptic fill-finish. Indianapolis handles lipid nanoparticles, liposomes and PEGylated proteins, with aseptic fill-finish capacity.1
Lonza expects the facilities to generate about SFr250 million in sales in 2028, with a core EBITDA margin below its overall level.1 Lonza will pay with available cash and existing credit facilities.1
The businesses will operate separately until closing as the companies work on a transition.1 The companies expect the deal to close around mid-2027, subject to customary conditions.1