New Merck's Annual SEC Disclosures Filed; Lots of New Severance Programs

I'll have more shortly, but the new series of nine separate Exhibit 10 plans are all new severance, and bridging, and buyout plans -- to handle encouraging employees to retire, or sever them outright, both union and non-union.

. . . .The Company may fail to realize the anticipated cost savings, revenue enhancements and other benefits expected from the Merger, which could adversely affect the value of the Company’s common stock.

The success of the Merger will depend, in part, on the Company’s ability to successfully combine the businesses of Old Merck and Schering-Plough and realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from the combination of the two companies. If the combined company is not able to achieve these objectives within the anticipated time frame, or at all, the value of the Company’s common stock may be adversely affected.

It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, result in the disruption of each legacy company’s ongoing businesses or identify inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, creditors, lessors, clinical trial investigators or managers or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Merger. . . .