The Supervisory Board of Merck KGaA has decided today to propose to the General Shareholders' Meeting a dividend amounting to EUR 0.85 per share for fiscal year 1999. As a dividend of EUR 0.82 had been paid in the previous year, this represents an increase of +3.5 percent. Note to news editors: Merck will be announcing its detailed results for fiscal year 1999 at the press conference tomorrow, 14 March 2000, from 10.30 a.m. in Darmstadt. News releases - embargoed 14 March 2000, 10.30 a.m. CET - will be distributed on 14 March 2000 from 7.00 a.m. CET. Original Text Service: Merck KGaA Internet: http://recherche.newsaktuell.de Contact: Dr. Hartmut Vennen Phone +49 6151 72 2386 Fax +49 6151 72 7707 E-mail: hartmut.vennen@merck.de E-mail: pressestelle@merck.de Website: http ://www.merck.de