Merck KGaA expands chemicals business with $17bn Sigma-Aldrich buy

German pharmaceuticals and chemicals group Merck KGaA is to buy R&D chemicals maker Sigma-Aldrich for $140 per share in cash, valuing the US company at around $17bn. Despite the move, Merck chairman Karl-Ludwig Kley disputes any suggestion that Merck is deprioritizing pharmaceuticals.