Annual General Meeting Approves All Agenda Items 

• Stable dividend of € 2.20 per share
• In-person 2026 Annual General Meeting in the Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, held its 30th Annual General Meeting in virtual form today. All resolutions on the agenda, including the proposed dividend of € 2.20 per share, were approved by a large majority. The new compensation system was approved with 88.77%.

In her address to the shareholders, Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, summarized the developments of the previous fiscal year and presented an outlook for the future development of the company. She explained: “We are standing at the threshold of a new era and are determined to utilize the latest trends for our own success. We are investing in the most important markets, concentrating on leading-edge technologies and have a clear vision for the future. This gives us the tools we need to respond to geopolitical uncertainties while also playing a leading role in this time of scientific and technological change.”

Turning to Europe, she stated: “To make Europe a center of innovation again, we need to reduce bureaucracy, accelerate investments in key technologies and fully tap into the potential of the European single market. As a company deeply rooted in Europe, taking on a passive role is not an option. We intend to lead the way as pioneers.”

“At our company the employees take center stage and we want to take a holistic view of our benefits offering to ensure their health and well-being, whatever their current phase in life,” said Garijo in her speech, continuing: “One of many examples of this commitment is the introduction of the Caregiver Leave Benefit. With this program, we offer our employees at least ten days of financially secured leave to care for critically or terminally ill family members.”

The Annual General Meeting approved the renewal of the authorization to carry out virtual Annual General Meetings with 83.91%. This authorization is valid until 2027 and enables the flexibility to choose the format of the Annual General Meeting. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, had already decided to host the 2026 Annual General Meeting as an in-person event at the Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt.

When the resolutions were voted on, around 88.03 million of the approximately 129.2 million shares issued were represented, corresponding to 68.11% of the share capital. A detailed summary of the voting results as well as additional information can be found at www.emdgroup.com/agm.