Merck Animal Health Completes Acquisition of Vallée S.A.

Broadening Our Comprehensive Portfolio of Animal Health Products for
Brazilian Market

MADISON, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$MRK #MRK–Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the United
States and Canada) today announced it has successfully acquired a
controlling interest in Vallée S.A., a leading privately-held producer
of animal health products in Brazil.

“The combined strength of the two companies under the umbrella of MSD
Animal Health will provide customers with a more comprehensive portfolio
of products for livestock animals,” said Rick DeLuca, president, Merck
Animal Health. “We will continue to seek opportunities like these that
complement our business and bring value to our customers.”

About Merck Animal Health

For over a century, Merck Animal Health has been a global health care
leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as
MSD outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health
business unit of Merck Animal Health. Through its commitment to the
Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers
veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest
range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management
solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving
and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It
invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a
modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than
50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For
more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or
connect with us on LinkedIn,
Facebook
and Twitter at @MerckAH.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the
“company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs
and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to
significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove
inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may
differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry
conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest
rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of
pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the
United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost
containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained
by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development,
including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to
accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties
or delays; financial instability of international economies and
sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents
and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to
litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results
to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements can be found in the company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K
and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

For Merck
Media:
Noreen Verbrugge, 973-937-5450
or
Pamela
Eisele, 267-305-3558
or
Investors:
Michael DeCarbo,
908-740-1807