Silence Therapeutics Enters into Agreement to be Acquired by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Key Highlights
- ➤Merck KGaA to acquire Silence Therapeutics for approximately $1.3 billion equity value
- ➤$20.00 per ADS represents a 130% premium to October 16 closing price
- ➤Transaction enterprise value totals $1.1 billion in all-cash consideration
- ➤Deal expected to close in first quarter of 2027, subject to approvals
- ➤Divesiran Phase 2 polycythemia vera data support Merck’s planned Phase 3 development
Expert Statements
Iain Ross, Interim Principal Executive Officer and Chairman of the Silence Board
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which is the result of a competitive sale process and delivers significant, immediate and certain value to our shareholders”
Iain Ross, Interim Principal Executive Officer and Chairman of the Silence Board
“This transaction follows potentially best-in-class Phase 2 polycythemia vera data for Divesiran and reflects the important progress we have made advancing our differentiated siRNA pipeline.”
Iain Ross, Interim Principal Executive Officer and Chairman of the Silence Board
“It also provides a new home for our innovative programs within Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, placing Divesiran with a company that has the scale, resources and commercial capabilities to accelerate its Phase 3 development and bring this potentially best-in-class siRNA therapy to patients in need.”
Iain Ross, Interim Principal Executive Officer and Chairman of the Silence Board
“We are incredibly grateful to our employees for their dedication and contributions in building Silence into the company it is today.”
Kai Beckmann, Chairman of the Executive Board and Group CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
“The planned acquisition of Silence Therapeutics will strengthen our capabilities to serve patients with targeted specialty and rare diseases”
Kai Beckmann, Chairman of the Executive Board and Group CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
“Following the acquisition of SpringWorks Therapeutics last year, we continue to transform our pipeline toward areas of high specialization and unmet medical need, with an ongoing commitment to external innovation.”
Kai Beckmann, Chairman of the Executive Board and Group CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
“The proposed transaction follows Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's strategic priority to address attractive end markets also through M&A, creating value over the mid- to long-term.”
Silence Therapeutics Enters into Agreement to be Acquired by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
All-Cash Transaction Values Silence Therapeutics at Approximately $1.3 Billion
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