MERCK KGAA Your Contact
Gangolf Schrimpf +49 6151 72-9591
Investor Relations +49 6151 72-3321
Darmstadt, Germany, July 3, 2014 - Merck, a leading company for high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, today announced that all remaining shares of AZ Electronic Materials (AZ) have been transferred to Merck on July 2, 2014. Holding 99.84% of the AZ shares already, Merck had exercised its compulsory acquisition right ("Squeeze-Out") on June 27, 2014.
On May 2, 2014, Merck had announced the official completion of the AZ-acquisition, creating a leading solutions provider in the premium segment of high-tech materials and functional specialty chemicals. Merck had made a recommended cash offer of
403.5 GBpence per AZ-share, totalling approximately € 1.9 billion to acquire AZ in
December 2013.
Merck has already started the integration of AZ, which employs around 1,150 people worldwide, and expects all major steps of the integration to be completed by the end of
2014. During the integration AZ will be operated as a separate business unit of Merck's Performance Materials division, alongside the three existing business units Liquid Crystals, Pigments & Cosmetics and Advanced Technologies until a decision on the final set up has been taken.
With annual sales of approximately US-$ 730 million (€ 530 million) in 2013, AZ is a leading high-tech materials supplier with a strong operational presence in Asia, accounting for almost 80 percent of the total group revenues. More than 80 percent of the AZ Group revenue is generated by products with a leading position in their respective markets. AZ materials are widely used in integrated circuits and devices, flat panel displays, and light-emitting diodes. As such, it is a critical partner to the leading
Merck KGaA
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Hotline +49 6151 72-5000 Fax +49 6151 72-3138 www.merckgroup.com media.relations@merckgroup.com
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News Releaseglobal electronics players as its chemical technology allows them to enhance existing processes and innovate new products.
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Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. With its four divisions Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Performance Materials and Merck Millipore, Merck generated total revenues of € 11.1 billion in 2013. Around 38,000 Merck employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to further the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company - since
1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding
an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany is holding the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company is known as EMD.
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