Transaction establishes Merck as a leader in emerging digital tracking, traceability, and monitoring technology.

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and privately held Antelliq Group have signed a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire Antelliq from funds advised by BC Partners. Antelliq will be a wholly owned and separately operated subsidiary within the Merck Animal Health Division. Merck will make a cash payment of approximately €2.1 billion to acquire all outstanding shares of Antelliq and will assume Antelliq’s debt of €1.15 billion, which it intends to repay shortly after the closing of the acquisition.

The closing of the transaction is subject to clearance by antitrust and competition law authorities and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.

Latham & Watkins advised BC Partners in the transaction with a team led by Paris partners Denis Criton and Thomas Forschbach, with London associates Linzi Thomas, Thomas Tharakan, Gillian Bourke, Jessica Corr, and Antonina Semyachkova. Advice was also provided on antitrust matters by Paris partner Frédéric Pradelles; on tax matters by London partner Sean Finn; and on employment matters by London partner Stephen Brown and Paris partner Matthias Rubner.