-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, QJ8sF64FZFOnvSw1VK6ARkLgZYvh/drckHziSyfRDzeRqLGyOv4TJDs0lvXEd+6j zHqcX1m38+XNmC2ePnwryQ== 0000950123-97-004420.txt : 19970520 0000950123-97-004420.hdr.sgml : 19970520 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-97-004420 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19970513 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 19970515 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MERCK & CO INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000064978 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834] IRS NUMBER: 221109110 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-03305 FILM NUMBER: 97608825 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE MERCK DR STREET 2: P O BOX 100 CITY: WHITEHOUSE STATION STATE: NJ ZIP: 08889-0100 BUSINESS PHONE: 9084234044 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE MERCK DR STREET 2: PO BOX 100 WS3AB-05 CITY: WHITEHOUSE STATION STATE: NJ ZIP: 08889-0100 8-K 1 MERCK & CO., INC. 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 13, 1997 ------------ MERCK & CO., Inc. ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) New Jersey ---------------------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 1-3305 22-1109110 ----------------------- ---------------------------------- (Commission File Number) (I.R.S Employer Identification No.) One Merck Drive, PO Box 100, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100 --------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (908)423-1000 ------------- 2 Item 5. Other Events Incorporated by reference is a press release issued by the Registrant on May 13, 1997, attached as Exhibit 99, concerning the Registrant's announcement of the signing of a definitive agreement for the sale of its crop protection business to Novartis for $910 million. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits Exhibit 99 Press release issued Filed with May 13, 1997 this document SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. MERCK & CO., Inc. Date: May 15, 1997 By: /s/ Dolores O. Rosinski ---------------------------- DOLORES O. ROSINSKI Senior Assistant Secretary 3 EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number Description ------ ----------- 99 Press release issued May 13, 1997
EX-99 2 PRESS RELEASE 1 Exhibit 99 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: John Doorley Laura Jordan Kathy Bloomgarden Merck--Press Merck--Investor Relations Novartis (Ruder Finn) (908) 423-4081 (908) 423-5185 (914) 235-3070 MERCK TO SELL ITS CROP PROTECTION BUSINESS TO NOVARTIS Deal Valued at $910 Million Whitehouse Station, N.J., May 13, 1997 -- Merck & Co., Inc. announced today the signing of a definitive agreement for the sale of its crop protection business to Novartis for $910 million. This divestiture by Merck, along with the sale of its specialty chemicals businesses in recent years, is in keeping with the Company's strategy of focusing exclusively on its core human and animal health businesses. Novartis will offer employment to virtually all Merck crop protection employees. Merck's decision to sell its crop protection business was announced in December 1996 as part of the announcement that Merck and Rhone-Poulenc will combine their animal health and poultry genetics businesses to form a new company, called Merial, that will be the largest in the animal health and poultry genetics industries. Since December, Merck's intention has been to choose a buyer with a strategic interest in the crop protection industry, and Novartis, the world leader in agribusiness, emerged as the successful bidder. Merck believes that its highly profitable crop protection business, with employees among the best in the industry, will prove to be an excellent investment. Merck's products provide crop protection for a wide range of crops against mites, insects and fungi. Merck's crop protection products are registered in more than 60 countries and have annual sales of approximately $200 million. Novartis' 1996 agribusiness sales were $5.2 billion, 73% of which were in crop protection. Novartis has the largest R&D budget in the crop protection industry. Closing of the transaction is expected this summer. It is subject to antitrust approvals in the U.S. and several other countries. -more- 2 Merck & Co., Inc. is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health. Merck-Medco Managed Care, Inc. manages pharmacy benefits for approximately 50 million Americans, encouraging the appropriate use of medicines and providing health management programs. Through these complementary capabilities, Merck works to improve the quality of life and contain overall health-care costs. # # # - 2 - -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----