Merck KGaA has completed its acquisition of Millipore Corp. for approximately $7.0 billion. The closing follows the approval of Millipore’s shareholders, as well as the satisfaction of other customary conditions. EMD Millipore will consist of three business units: Bioscience, Lab Solutions and Process Solutions. Each unit will have several key focus areas, referred to as business fields.

“With today’s launch of EMD Millipore, we are creating a world-class partner for the Life Science sector, with a comprehensive product offering and enhanced global scale and innovative power,” said Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, chairman of Merck’s Executive Board. “We will now move quickly to bring together the expertise and complementary capabilities of both Merck and Millipore employees to capture the significant opportunities in the high-growth, high-margin market segments such as bio-research and bio-production.”

Dr. Bernd Reckmann will serve as head of the EMD Millipore division. Dr. Reckmann joined Merck in 1986 and has held several senior management positions. Previously he served as president of the Merck Companies in Korea. Dr. Reckmann will continue to serve as head of Merck’s Chemicals Business Sector, overseeing both the EMD Millipore and Performance Materials divisions, and as a member of the Executive Board.