Lonza Group stock: Merck deal doubles US CDMO footprint

Published on 11/03/2026 at 18:13 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Lonza Group stock is in focus after Lonza agreed to buy five Merck CDMO sites in the United States. Closing is expected in mid-2027.

Lonza expands US CDMO platform

Lonza agreed to acquire five Merck KGaA manufacturing sites in the United States.
The transaction adds bioconjugation, payload-linker, viral-vector and drug-delivery capabilities.
Closing is expected in mid-2027, subject to customary conditions.

Lonza Group, CH0013841017, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Lonza announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire five US contract development and manufacturing sites from Merck KGaA. The company said the transaction will more than double its US footprint from four to nine sites and add approximately 1,100 employees.

The announcement is a new development beyond Lonza's latest update on third-quarter execution and its unchanged 2026 outlook. In the company announcement, Lonza said the deal supports its One Lonza strategy and expands its US capabilities in areas with demand for complex pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Five sites broaden Lonza capabilities

The acquired operations cover bioconjugation in St. Louis, Missouri; high-potency payload-linkers in Madison and Verona, Wisconsin; viral-vector solutions in Carlsbad, California; and lipid nanoparticles, liposomes and PEGylated proteins in Indianapolis, Indiana. The network supports customers from clinical development through commercial manufacturing.

Lonza expects the acquired sites to generate around CHF 250 million in sales in 2028. Their CORE EBITDA margin is expected to be below Lonza's group level initially, with the business expected to reach the group's future margin level by the mid-2030s. The transaction is valued in the low- to mid-triple-digit millions of Swiss francs and will be funded with cash on hand and existing credit facilities.

Closing remains a future milestone

Closing is expected in mid-2027, subject to customary closing conditions. Until then, the businesses will continue to operate independently. Lonza said the deal will not affect its previously announced share buyback following completion of the Capsules & Health Ingredients divestment.

Lonza Group stock traded at 708.80 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 18:07 CET on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Investors can follow the real-time quote of Lonza Group stock.