General principles
In all its business endeavors, Merck orients toward general principles. They help those responsible within the company to shape strategic plans and to make decisions.
The structure of Merck KGaA with members of the Merck family as personally liable partners requires the Executive Board to pay special attention to the long-term development of value. Therefore, sustainability plays a special role at Merck. The objective is to align the long-term development of the company with the legitimate interests of shareholders, whose engagement in Merck is often of a shorter duration. That is why Merck’s business portfolio must always be balanced so that it reflects an optimum mix of entrepreneurial opportunities and risks. Merck achieves this through sustained diversification in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and life science tools, as well as through its geographic breadth with respect to growth sources.
For Merck, the principle of sustainability applies not only to economic aspects. Instead, it also encompasses responsibility for society and environmental preservation. With its current and future product portfolio, Merck wants to help solve global challenges and shape a sustainable future. That is also why innovation is the basis of the company’s business activities; it is the prerequisite for future growth. The Merck Group is continually working on new products and service innovations for patients and customers and relies on a continual process of internal innovation throughout all areas of the company.
Group strategy
Merck focuses on innovative and top-quality high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. The company’s goal is sustainable and profitable growth. Merck intends to achieve this by growing primarily organically and by further developing its competencies, but also by making targeted acquisitions that complement and expand existing strengths in meaningful ways. Building on leading branded products in all four divisions, Merck aims to generate income that is largely independent of the prevailing economic cycles. Moreover, the aim is to further expand the strong market position in emerging markets in the medium to long term. In 2013, the Emerging Markets region contributed 36% to Group sales.
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