Merck KGaA to Acquire siRNA Company Silence Therapeutics for About $1.3 Billion

Merck KGaA of Germany has entered a definitive agreement to acquire the UK siRNA biotechnology company Silence Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SLN), with an enterprise value of $1.1 billion and an equity value of about $1.3 billion. The original article gives a cash consideration of $20 per ADS, with each ADS representing three ordinary shares. Silence Therapeutics focuses on developing siRNA drugs in areas of high unmet need, and the deal remains subject to customary closing conditions.