Merck Makes A Smart Buy

Large pharmaceuticals buy small private companies all the time, often paying so little that they are not even obligated to report the transactions to shareholders. With Merck's (NYSE: MRK) deal to buy SmartCells, though, things are a little different on two levels. Not only is the purchase price large enough to get some attention, but the technology could be a real game-changer down the road. 

The Deal
Rumors had been creeping around for a little while on this deal, but Merck made it official Thursday morning that it was acquiring SmartCells in an all-cash deal. Although the companies did not discuss the upfront payment, it is a comprehensive deal that includes potential milestones and follow-on payments that could all total in excess of $500 million. Given the size of the transaction and the timing of the payments, I am not sure that Merck will have to file an 8-K for this, so investors may be hard-pressed to find more details on the transaction. (For more, see The Wacky World Of Mergers And Acquisitions.)

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