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November 6, 2017 8:56 am ET

Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada,
announced today the commencement of offers to purchase (collectively,
the “Offers”) any and all of the outstanding notes listed in the table
below (collectively, the “Notes”). The Offers are being made upon, and
are subject to, the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to
Purchase, dated Nov. 6, 2017 (the “Offer to Purchase”).

The following table sets forth some of the terms of the Offers, which
are more fully set out in the Offer to Purchase:

_____________________

(1) Per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, assuming that the Reference
Yield (as defined below) had been measured at 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, on Nov. 3, 2017 and assuming a hypothetical settlement date of
Nov. 15, 2017. The Actual Reference Yield (as defined in the Offer to
Purchase) will be determined in accordance with the terms of the Offers.
See the Offer to Purchase.

The Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on Nov. 13, 2017
(such date and time with respect to an Offer, as the same may be
extended with respect to such Offer, the “Expiration Date”). Notes
tendered may be validly withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m.
(Eastern time) on Nov. 13, 2017 (such date and time with respect to an
Offer, as the same may be extended with respect to such Offer, the
“Withdrawal Date”), but not thereafter. The “Settlement Date” with
respect to an Offer will be promptly following the Expiration Date and
is expected to be Nov. 15, 2017, which is the second business day after
the Expiration Date. The “Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date” with
respect to Notes validly tendered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures after the Expiration Date and at or prior to the Guaranteed
Delivery Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) and accepted for
purchase will be the first business day after the Guaranteed Delivery
Date and is expected to be Nov. 16, 2017.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to
Purchase, the consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of each
series of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Date or
the Guaranteed Delivery Date pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures, and accepted for purchase (the “Total Consideration”), will
be payable in cash and will be determined in accordance with standard
market practice, as described in the Offer to Purchase, that equates to
a yield to maturity equal to the applicable reference yield plus the
applicable fixed spread, which reference yield shall be based on the
bid-side price of the applicable Reference U.S. Treasury Security
specified in the above table at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on Nov. 13,
2017 (such time and date, as the same may be extended with respect to
such Offer, the “Price Determination Date”). Merck will announce the
applicable Total Consideration for each series of Notes as soon as
practicable after they are determined by the Dealer Manager on the Price
Determination Date.

In addition to the applicable Total Consideration, holders whose Notes
are accepted for purchase will be paid accrued and unpaid interest on
such Notes to, but not including, the Settlement Date. Interest will
cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Notes accepted, including
those tendered through the guaranteed delivery procedures.

Merck’s obligation to accept Notes tendered in the Offers is subject to
the satisfaction of certain conditions described in the Offer to
Purchase, including the Complete Purchase Condition (as defined below).
Merck reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to waive any and
all conditions to any Offer.

Merck’s obligation to accept and pay for any Notes of any series validly
tendered is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer
to Purchase, as it may be amended or supplemented, including, but not
limited to, with respect to each series of Notes, $850,000,000 (the
“Maximum Amount”) being sufficient to fund the aggregate Total
Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) of all Notes of such
series (after funding the aggregate Total Consideration of all validly
tendered and not validly withdrawn Notes of each series having a higher
“Acceptance Priority Level” as set forth in the table above (with 1
being the highest Acceptance Priority Level)) tendered in the applicable
Offer (the “Complete Purchase Condition”). If the Complete Purchase
Condition is not satisfied with respect to any series of Notes subject
to the Offers, then Merck will not accept for purchase any Notes of that
series whether or not validly tendered. Accordingly, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer, Merck will accept for purchase
all Notes of each series tendered in accordance with the applicable
Acceptance Priority Level so long as the Maximum Amount is equal to or
greater than the aggregate Total Consideration for all tendered Notes of
such series and each series having a higher Acceptance Priority Level as
further provided in the Offer to Purchase.

Merck has retained BofA Merrill Lynch to act as dealer manager (the
“Dealer Manager”) for the Offers. Questions regarding terms and
conditions of the Offers should be directed to BofA Merrill Lynch at
(888) 292-0070 (toll-free) or (980) 387-3907 (collect).

Global Bondholder Services Corporation will act as the Information Agent
and the Tender Agent for the Offers. Questions or requests for
assistance related to the Offers or for additional copies of the Offer
to Purchase may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at
(866) 470-3800 (toll free) or (212) 430-3774 (collect). You may also
contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee for assistance concerning the Offers. The Offer to Purchase can
be accessed at the following link: http://www.gbsc-usa.com/Merck/.

If Merck terminates any Offer with respect to one or more series of
Notes, it will give prompt notice to the Tender Agent, and all Notes
tendered pursuant to such terminated Offer will be returned promptly to
the tendering holders thereof. With effect from such termination, any
Notes blocked in DTC will be released.

Holders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or
other intermediary through which they hold Notes as to when such
intermediary needs to receive instructions from a holder in order for
that holder to be able to participate in, or (in the circumstances in
which revocation is permitted) revoke their instruction to participate
in the Offers before the deadlines specified herein and in the Offer to
Purchase. The deadlines set by each clearing system for the submission
and withdrawal of tender instructions will also be earlier than the
relevant deadlines specified herein and in the Offer to Purchase.

This press release is for informational purposes only. This press
release is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to
purchase any Notes. The Offers are being made solely pursuant to the
Offer to Purchase. The Offers are not being made to holders of Notes in
any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be
in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such
jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue
sky laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer,
the Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of Merck by the Dealer
Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed
under the laws of such jurisdiction.

About Merck

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical
company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been
inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of
the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription
medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we
work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver
innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs
and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of
research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that
threaten people and communities around the world – including cancer,
cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease
and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information,
visit www.merck.com and connect
with us on Twitter,
Facebook,
Instagram,
YouTube
and LinkedIn.

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

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include,
but are not limited to, Merck’s ability to complete the offering. These
statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of
Merck’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.

Merck 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 Merck’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other
filings with the SEC available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Merck
Media:
Claire Gillespie, 267-305-0932
or
Investors:
Amy Klug, 908-740-1898