Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany certified as one of the Top Employers North America 2018

• North American businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, including EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials, recognized for second year in a row
• Top Employers Institute honors leading employers worldwide

Boston, Massachusetts and Mississauga, Ontario, February 1, 2018 — For the second year in a row, the North American businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, have been certified for the company’s outstanding employee offerings by the independent Top Employers Institute.

EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials received this major employment recognition for showcasing the company’s dedication to the development of its people.

"Attracting the best and brightest talent in key regions such as North America has been a fundamental part of what we do as a successful global company, throughout our 350-year history,” said Udit Batra, Member of the Executive Board and CEO, Life Science at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “This recognition reaffirms the potential for people joining our organization.

“In all the company’s sectors, including Life Science, we seek talent from many disciplines, such as digital and information technology, technical services, engineering and new areas such as artificial intelligence. The opportunities are endless.”

Recently, the Life Science business opened a 280,000-square foot campus in Burlington, Massachusetts housing nearly 1,000 employees, designed to leverage the expertise and skills of the best talent in the Life Science industry.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which is celebrating its 350th birthday this year, is one of a select group of companies to achieve the exclusive Top Employers North America 2018 certification. The company also achieved Top Employer status in Asia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

"We are honored to receive this official certification again and are committed to creating an environment where our talented employees are empowered to do their best work and build their careers,” said Gary Zieziula, President and Managing Director of EMD Serono. “The contributions of our highly talented employees enable us to successfully deliver on our mission to create solutions and technologies that enhance the lives of people around the world.”

The annual international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognizes leading global employers who provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and talent develop throughout all levels of the organization, and strive to continuously optimize employment practices. To achieve certification from the Top Employer Institute, companies undergo a stringent research process in which they are assessed on criteria including talent strategy, workforce planning, leadership development and culture.

“We recognize the importance of fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment aimed at not only utilizing our employees’ existing skillsets, but also empowering them with the necessary tools to drive their development and fulfill their personal ambitions,” said Luiz Vieira, President and Managing Director of EMD Performance Materials.

The Top Employers recognition follows the Massachusetts-based businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany — MilliporeSigma and EMD Serono — being named to The Boston Globe's annual "Top Places to Work" list in 2017.

To learn more about the Top Employers Institute and the Top Employers Certification, visit: www.top-employers.com.

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. More than 52,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, to cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 15.0 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, 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.