Dividend Aristocrats Part 23 Of 52: Sigma Aldrich [And Acquisitions]

Summary
See what 3 Dividend Aristocrats are most likely to be acquired next.
Learn why German Merck acquired Sigma-Aldrich.
Sigma-Aldrich will be acquired this month.
Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL) is a diversified chemical, life science, and biotechnology company. The company was founded in 1975 and now has a market cap of $16.8 billion.
The company makes the following products:
Diagnostic productsBiochemical productsChromatography productsOrganic chemical productsSigma-Aldrich is not a normal Dividend Aristocrat stock. Some interesting characteristics of the company that set it apart from other Dividend Aristocrats.
Has a low dividend yield of 0.7%Operates in a "high technology" industryIs scheduled to be acquired by Merck KGaAAll of the hurdles of the acquisition have been cleared. The acquisition will take place on November 18, 2015. At this date, Sigma-Aldrich will no longer be a Dividend Aristocrat as it will join Merck KGaA.
While the company is no longer a traditional dividend growth play, it is highly instructive to analyze why Sigma-Aldrich was acquired, and what characteristics other recent Dividend Aristocrats that have been acquired share with Sigma-Aldrich
Dividend Aristocrats Are Being Acquired
There have been 3 Dividend Aristocrats that have been acquired or are pending acquisition since 2014:
Sigma-Aldrich by Merck KGaAFamily Dollar by Dollar Tree (Nasdaq: DLTR)Chubb Group (NYSE: CB) by Ace Limited (NYSE: ACE)These 3... Read more