GENEVA, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• The consultation period with Merck Serono's Swiss-based employees is now concluded
• The review of proposals received from employees has begun and should take about two weeks
• The final decision on the restructuring plan for Merck Serono's operations in Switzerland should be issued on June 19, 2012

Merck Serono today announced the start of the review of proposals received as part of the consultation process with employees related to the restructuring plan for the company's operations in Switzerland, announced on April 24, 2012. The consultation period, which began on April 25, 2012, came to an end on June 4, 2012. During this time employees were able to put forward proposals aimed at, in particular, minimizing the effects of staff reductions provided for under the plan. Merck Serono expects to issue a final decision on the restructuring plan on June 19, 2012, after careful scrutiny of the proposals received while also limiting the period of uncertainty affecting staff. Employees will be given details of their individual situation in the weeks following the final decision.

"We are grateful to employees for their proposals, made via employee representatives and the trade union Unia, or individually. We also wish to thank them for their open, constructive and responsible attitude during this difficult time," said Stefan Oschmann, Member of the Executive Committee of Merck and CEO of Merck Serono. "We wish to assure them that each of the proposals received will be examined with the greatest of care and, insofar as the constraints to which we are subject will allow, they will be taken into account in determining our final decision on the restructuring plan for Merck Serono's operations in Switzerland."

François Naef, Chairman of the Board of Merck Serono S.A. added: "Alongside this, we are continuing our discussions with potential partners, with government departments and with other organizations active in the region, with a view to finding redeployment solutions for those of our employees who might be affected by the restructuring of our operations in Switzerland. In addition, the employees can still put forward proposals for setting up companies under the terms of the 30-million-euro fund that we have set up."

Under the terms of the restructuring plan announced on April 24, 2012, Merck Serono plans to consolidate all head office functions at a Merck Serono campus in Darmstadt (Germany), where the Merck Group has been based for nearly 350 years and operates its global headquarters. In addition, the division intends to concentrate its research and development resources in three hubs located in Europe (Darmstadt), the USA (Boston) and Asia (Beijing). Merck Serono consequently plans to close its Geneva site.

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA. With headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono offers leading brands in 150 countries to help patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders as well as cardiovascular diseases. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates as a separately incorporated subsidiary of Merck Serono.

Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines of both chemical and biological origin in specialist indications. We have an enduring commitment to deliver novel therapies in our core focus areas of neurodegenerative diseases, oncology and rheumatology.

About Merck

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of €10.3 billion in 2011, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by more than 40,000 employees in 67 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com or http://www.merckgroup.com

SOURCE Merck Serono S A