Thermo Fisher Completes $4 Billion Acquisition of Solventum's Purification Business
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has completed its acquisition of Solventum's Purification & Filtration business for approximately $4.0 billion in cash, a strategic move aimed at enhancing its bioprocessing capabilities and expanding into industries requiring ultra-pure water.
The acquisition, finalized on September 2, 2025, integrates Solventum's Purification & Filtration business into Thermo Fisher's Life Sciences Solutions segment. This addition is expected to generate approximately $750 million in revenue for the full year 2025. The acquired business offers advanced filtration technologies that improve quality and efficiency across upstream and downstream workflows in bioproduction. Additionally, it provides robust industrial filtration and membrane solutions for industries such as battery, semiconductor, and medical device manufacturing, which require ultra-pure water.
Marc N. Casper, chairman, president, and CEO of Thermo Fisher, emphasized the strategic fit of the acquisition, stating, "The addition of innovative filtration technologies is highly complementary and expands our bioprocessing portfolio to better serve the end-to-end needs of our pharma and biotech customers in this rapidly growing market."
Solventum, formerly part of 3M, announced the sale of its Purification & Filtration business on February 25, 2025, as part of its transformation plan to sharpen focus on strategic growth areas and strengthen its balance sheet. The net proceeds of $3.4 billion from the sale were primarily intended for debt reduction. Bryan Hanson, CEO of Solventum, commented, "The sale of the Purification & Filtration business is part of phase three of our transformation plan and follows a thorough analysis of the value and strategic alignment of our businesses."
The transaction was subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton served as legal advisor to Solventum.
This acquisition positions Thermo Fisher more competitively in the bioprocessing market, enabling it to offer comprehensive solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech clients. The integration of Solventum's advanced filtration technologies is expected to enhance Thermo Fisher's bioproduction offerings, improving quality and efficiency across workflows. Additionally, the expansion into industries requiring ultra-pure water opens new avenues for growth and diversification.
Financially, the transaction is expected to be dilutive to adjusted earnings per share by $0.06 in the first year. Excluding financing costs, it is anticipated to be accretive by $0.28 in that period. Thermo Fisher expects to realize approximately $125 million of adjusted operating income from revenue and cost synergies by year five following the close.
In summary, Thermo Fisher's acquisition of Solventum's Purification & Filtration business marks a significant step in its strategic expansion within the bioprocessing sector, enhancing its capabilities and market reach.