Merck Canada to unite its human health, consumer care and animal health divisions under one roof

Strengthened commitment to Kirkland with head office relocation to new LEED-certified, best-in-class facilities

KIRKLAND, QC, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Merck Canada is pleased to announce that it will be relocating its head offices to new and improved LEED silver-certified facilities on the Trans-Canada Highway in Kirkland, renewing its commitment to its host community since 1969.

The new Merck Canada head offices will bring together Merck's human health, consumer care, animal health, and associated support area employees, in 170,000 square feet of space in a new facility that will foster renewed collaboration across these divisions. This new Merck facility will be in-line with Merck's global workplace standards that aim to enhance collaboration, creative thinking as well as the sharing and developing of ideas.

"With this relocation, Merck is strengthening its longstanding commitment to the West Island community and to the life sciences and innovation sector in Quebec," said Cyril Schiever, President and Managing Director of Merck Canada Inc. "Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork of our employees so we are pleased to provide them with a new, best-in-class work environment where they can thrive," he added.

"Merck Canada has deep roots here in Kirkland and we are pleased they have renewed their commitment to our wonderful town. We're proud to have Merck and its employees as solid and longstanding members of our community," said John W. Meaney, Mayor of Kirkland.

The new Merck facility will comprise an existing Merck-occupied building located at 16750 Trans-Canada Highway, which will be fully renovated, and a new building that will be built adjacent to it by Broccolini Construction (BCI). Merck expects to relocate to these new facilities by the end of 2013.

The future work environment will provide employees with a greater number of collaborative workspaces and break areas, both indoors and outdoors, as well as an open concept design allowing for a more effective use of space. Employees will also have access to top-tier services including a fitness centre, a cafeteria offering healthy choices and landscaped outdoor space.

About Merck
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well.  Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca.

Forward Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger between Merck and Schering-Plough, including future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the possibility that all of the expected synergies from the merger of Merck and Schering-Plough will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; Merck's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation and/or regulatory actions. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

SOURCE: MERCK

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Sheila Murphy
Merck
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Stephanie Lyttle
NATIONAL Public Relations
514-843-2365