Sartorius AG has signed a definitive agreement with Stedim Biosystems S.A., to acquire a substantial stake in Stedim, combining its Biotechnology Division with Stedim’s biopharmaceutical supply business. Upon completion of this transaction, Sartorius will become Stedim’s majority owner controlling the combined company. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed. 

With the combination of the two businesses, Sartorius strengthens its position as a technology provider to the growing biopharmaceutical market. The transaction, which is subject to approval by Stedim’s shareholders and regulatory clearance, is expected to be complete this summer. The combined company will be named “Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.”

Stedim is a supplier of disposable bag systems for biopharmaceutical applications and has a product segment consisting of door systems for aseptic transfer technology and a proprietary freeze-thaw technology. Stedim employs 540 people at its locations in France, the U.S. and Tunisia.

Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg, chief executive officer and chairman of the executive board of Sartorius, commented, “This transaction significantly accelerates our strategy to offer customers fully integrated solutions for next generation biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It brings together two passionately innovative technology leaders with strong customer bases and a shared vision. The two companies’ product array, technology platforms and regional strengths are highly complementary. Given the strong double-digit growth rates in the biopharmaceutical markets and the shift in our markets toward disposable solutions, this is the ideal time for our Biotech Division and Stedim to come together.”

Bernard Lemaitre, chairman of Stedim, stated, “It is important to stress that each of the two companies brings a leading market position to this project. In establishing this alliance focused on the same customers and with complementary product portfolios, our first objective will be to implement a strategic and an industrial project with an impact much greater than the sum of the two parts. Once combined, Sartorius Biotechnology and Stedim have the realistic ambition of forming a worldwide market leader for single-use based technologies over the next five years. No other group can offer the biopharmaceutical market such a broad range of solutions.”