We are a science and technology company. We are pioneers of human progress, driven by our curiosity. We are working toward a better future in a special organizational setup and are bringing together different disciplines under one roof with the three business sectors Life Science, Healthcare and Electronics.
Our Life Science business sector provides the tools, high-grade chemicals and consumables that accelerate scientific breakthroughs and enable the biopharmaceutical industry to ensure that medicines are safe and effective for a global population.
In our Healthcare business sector, we advance innovation through our research, enable life-changing therapies for serious illnesses, treat patients with cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and multiple sclerosis, and help people to realize their wish to have a child.
In our Electronics business sector, we are the company behind the companies, advancing digital living. Our semiconductor and display solutions are used in the manufacture of many components for electronic devices. We are thus changing the way in which information is processed and made accessible.
In addition, our specialists also explore visionary new solutions at the interfaces of our three diversified business sectors.
Ever since we were established in 1668, we have continuously reinvented ourselves and adopted a long-term mindset. This approach is rooted in responsibility, care and respect: for our work, our employees, our customers, patients, society, and our planet. We want to become the global 21st century science and technology pioneer and are committed to working towards a better future: sustainable progress for humankind.
The founding family, now in the 13th generation, is still the majority owner. This is made possible by our company structure: a corporation with general partners (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien – KGaA). In a KGaA, the total capital is divided between general partners and limited partners. The founding family holds a 70.274% stake in the listed Merck Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Darmstadt, Germany (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), as general partner via the Group’s ultimate parent company, E. Merck Kommanditgesellschaft, Darmstadt, Germany. The remaining 29.726% of the share capital of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is traded on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and other stock exchanges.
The assessment of business development and the allocation of financial resources are carried out by the entire management of the company for the Life Science, Healthcare and Electronics business sectors as well as the supporting corporate functions. In addition to the Chair of the Executive Board and CEO Belén Garijo, the Members of the Executive Board are Matthias Heinzel, CEO Life Science, Peter Guenter, CEO Healthcare, Kai Beckmann, CEO Electronics, and Helene von Roeder, Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Helene von Roeder was appointed CFO as of July 1, 2023, succeeding Marcus Kuhnert on the Executive Board of the Group.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the company name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States. In these countries, we operate as MilliporeSigma in the Life Science business, as EMD Serono in the Healthcare business and as EMD Electronics in the Electronics business.
Apart from our three business sectors, our financial reporting presents five regions: Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. As of December 31, 2023, we had 62,908 employees worldwide. The figure as of December 31, 2022, was 64,232 employees. We have summarized further details on our employee structure and important aspects such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the “Non-Financial Statement”.
For fiscal 2023, we exercise the option of publishing the Statement on Corporate Governance on the Group’s website in accordance with section 315d HGB in conjunction with section 289f (1) sentence 2 HGB. It is available at https://www.emdgroup.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/reports.html.
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1 Our company also employs people at sites of subsidiaries that are not fully consolidated. This number refers to people employed in fully consolidated subsidiaries.