Merck KGaA has appointed Udit Batra, currently CEO and president of the company’s life science business to lead the combined life science business of Merck KGaA once Merck’s pending $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich is completed. The planned $17 billion transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, which the company expects to have completed in mid-2015. Until then, the life science business of Merck KGaA and Sigma-Aldrich will continue to operate as separate companies with Udit Batra and Rakesh Sachdev, President and CEO of Sigma-Aldrich, running both organizations independently. Rakesh Sachdev will serve in an advisory capacity, as needed, to ensure a smooth transition.

Merck KGaA, announced the acquisition of Sigma Aldrich in September 2014 as part of its “Fit for 2018” transformation and growth strategy aimed at building three strong platforms for sustainable, profitable growth. If approved, the acquisition will be the largest in Merck KGaA’s almost 350-year history. Merck KGaA, has already secured antitrust clearance from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and some other jurisdictions, and is workingwith the respective authorities to complete the transaction as planned. In March 2015, the company announced that it successfully placed $4 billion in bonds, following the placement of € 1.5 billion in hybrid bond in December to help finance the transaction.

Udit Batra has served as CEO and president of the life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, since March 2014. He joined Merck KGaA in 2011 to head the Group’s consumer health business. Prior to that, he worked at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, where he was head of Global Public Health and Market Access. He served in a range of executive management positions at Novartis, including global Head of Corporate Strategy and Country President for the Pharma Business in Australia.

Source: Merck KGaA