Merck KGaA. (5/16/17). "Press Release: Optimizing the Further Development of the Darmstadt Site". Darmstadt.

	Region	Darmstadt
	Country	Germany
	Organisation	Merck KGaA
	Group	Merck (DE) (Group)
	Product	LIFE SCIENCES

> Less complexity, even better opportunities for growth

> ERP systems aligned with the concrete needs of the three business sectors

> Establishment of subsidiaries under the roof of Merck KGaA to be considered

> Implementation planned largely for 2018

Merck, a leading science and technology company, announced today that it will purposefully develop its structures at the Darmstadt site further. The aim is to be able to benefit in the best possible way from the global growth opportunities of the three business sectors over the long term.

“Darmstadt is a strong site with strong prospects. Our Group headquarters are and will remain in Darmstadt. We manufacture here for all three business sectors. Important research activities are based in Darmstadt and we meanwhile have more than 10,000 employees at the site,” said Stefan Oschmann, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. “Now, in a situation in which Merck is doing very well, we want to strategically prepare the site for further growth in the three business sectors. To do so, we must link it better with other parts of the advancing Merck world,” said Oschmann.

For this purpose, the company will relaunch the enterprise resource planning systems of Merck KGaA. To date, these have primarily been optimized for the requirements at the Darmstadt site but only support global needs of the business sectors to a limited extent. Three customized enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are to be set up for the three business sectors Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials. To this end, Merck will also examine the company legal structures at the site, particularly the establishment of subsidiaries under the roof of Merck KGaA to run the individual businesses and their ERP systems.

Generally, lowering internal complexity is the maxim for all of the planned measures. The company aims to optimally utilize the potential of all three business sectors. “We will continue to see ourselves as one Merck, and act accordingly. That's our strength, it’s what makes us unique,” said Oschmann.

The planned measures and their concrete form are still subject to further review and decision-making by the Executive Board and other responsible bodies. According to the current status, implementation should largely take place in 2018.

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Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of € 15.0 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

Record changed: 2017-06-07