Key facts
- Repligen Corp. is acquiring BioLife Solutions in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
- The acquisition aims to expand Repligen's cell therapy business by incorporating BioLife's cell preservation technology and consumables.
- BioLife shareholders will receive $11.25 in cash and 0.1442 Repligen shares per BioLife share, valuing the supplier at $31 per share.
- The deal has received unanimous approval from the boards of both companies and is expected to close in Q4 2026.
- Repligen anticipates the acquisition will boost its earnings and yield at least $20 million in annual savings.
Repligen Corp. announced on Wednesday its agreement to acquire BioLife Solutions in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion. This strategic move is designed to enhance Repligen's position in the rapidly expanding cell therapy market by integrating BioLife's technologies for cell preservation throughout manufacturing and the supply chain, along with its portfolio of cell-processing tools and a high-margin consumables business.
The acquisition follows a trend of consolidation in the drug development tools sector, highlighted by German drugmaker Merck KGaA's recent $11.3 billion deal for Bio-Techne. Larger peer Danaher also indicated a rebound in demand for bioprocessing products, suggesting a more favorable market environment for companies supplying the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Under the terms of the agreement, BioLife shareholders will receive $11.25 in cash and 0.1442 shares of Repligen for each share they own. This values BioLife, a supplier of cell therapy tools, at $31 per share, representing a premium of about 6.2% over its last closing price. Both companies' boards have unanimously approved the deal, which is anticipated to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Repligen expects the acquisition to boost its earnings and generate at least $20 million in savings within the first year after closing, primarily through cost efficiencies and the elimination of overlapping expenses. BioLife had previously streamlined its operations by selling its evo cold-chain logistics unit for $25.5 million in October 2025, sharpening its focus on products related to cell and gene therapy.