Biotest sells microbiology business to Merck Millipore

Biotest has agreed a deal to sell off its microbiology business unit to fellow life sciences company Merck Millipore.

The agreement will see Biotest transfer ownership of the Germany-based division – which employees 290 people – to the US firm, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2011.

Sales of approximately 50 million euros (43.96 million pounds) were generated last year by the business unit, which manufactures products for use by the pharmaceutical, personal care and food and beverage industries.

Following this move, Biotest's operating business now consists solely of its plasma proteins and biotherapeutics segments.

This takeover also allows Merck Millipore to take control of brands such as Hycon and heipha and expand its presence in the industrial microbiological testing sector.

Klaus Bischoff, head of the lab solutions business unit at Merck Millipore, said: "We strengthen our product portfolio and acquire a business with a motivated, customer-focused workforce, unique knowhow and state-of-the-art production."