Scheuble succeeds Langmann / Changes at Merck

Retirement of Schröder Darmstadt (ots) - Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim Langmann (74) willhand over his chairmanship of the Executive Board of Merck KGaAin the middle of 2000. As announced by the company, Prof. Dr.Bernhard Scheuble (45) will succeed him as CEO of the MerckGroup. The Board of Partners of E. Merck gave its approval tothis decision on Tuesday. Prof. Langmann remains Chairman of the Executive Board of E.Merck. This company holds the Merck family's capital share (74per cent) in Merck KGaA. Since Prof. Langmann also remainsChairman of the Family Board he continues as the toprepresentative of the Merck Group. Under Prof. Langmann'smanagement, Merck has developed since 1963 from a company mainlyoperating in Germany with annual sales of DM 300 million to aninternationally operating group of companies with annual salesamounting to DM 8.1 billion. Prof. Scheuble, who joined the company in 1982, is among thepioneers of Merck's liquid crystals business and has been GeneralPartner and Member of the Executive Board of E. Merck and MerckKGaA since 1997. He heads the Pharmaceuticals business sector,for which he will continue to be responsible also in the future. Dr. Harald J. Schröder (60), Vice Chairman of the ExecutiveBoard of the Merck Group and General Partner of E. Merck andMerck KGaA, will retire at his own request when his contractterminates at the end of 1999. The Board of Partners and theExecutive Board have approved this request to their considerableregret. Dr. Schröder will retain his office, however, asPresident and Delegate of the Board of Directors of the centralMerck holding company, Merck AG in Zug, Switzerland. Dr.Schröder has been at Merck for 10 years and heads Accounting andControlling, Central Purchasing, Information Services andCorporate Internal Auditing. A decision on his successor has notyet been taken. ots Original Text Service: Merck KGaA Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Merck KgaA Mr Riede phone:06151/ 72 71 09

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