PresentationWelcome to the 44th J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. I'm Richard Vosser, European pharma analyst with J.P. Morgan. It's my great pleasure to host and introduce the CEO, Belén Garijo, from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and their presentation today at the conference. Just before I hand over to Belén, just a few housekeeping remarks. [Operator Instructions] Belén, welcome to the conference.Belén Garijo LópezChair of Executive Board & CEO Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Good morning, ever ...

Merck Capital Markets Day Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Merck (OTCPK:MKGA.F) - **Event**: 2025 Capital Markets Day - **Date**: October 16, 2025 Key Industry and Company Insights Strategic Priorities - Merck is focused on driving growth, fostering innovation, and sustainable value creation across its business sectors [2][7][10] - The company emphasizes a disciplined approach to capital allocation, prioritizing investments in areas with the highest returns [12][15] Business Sectors 1. **Electronics** - Merck is concentrating nearly 80% of its electronics business on Semiconductor Solutions, a key growth driver [45] - The semiconductor materials market is expected to grow at 5% to 7%, with Merck positioned to outperform due to trends in AI and advanced computing [48] 2. **Life Science** - The Process Solutions segment is projected to grow at 9% to 10%, with a mid- to high single-digit organic CAGR targeted for the overall Life Science sector [34][37] - The company is adjusting its market growth outlook from 5%-7% to 4%-6% due to factors like reduced academic funding and macroeconomic volatility in China [35][36] 3. **Healthcare** - The recent acquisition of SpringWorks is a strategic move to establish a rare diseases business, expected to contribute to mid-single-digit growth [40][42] - The healthcare segment is facing challenges with maturing products and potential loss of exclusivity for key drugs, impacting growth expectations [43][44] Financial Performance and Outlook - Merck has delivered consistent sales growth over the past 15 years, with a focus on maintaining attractive margins [12][28] - The company anticipates a margin improvement of about 100 basis points over the midterm, driven by higher capacity utilization and efficiency gains [64][66] - Operating cash flow is expected to improve, supported by margin expansion and reduced capital expenditures [30][31] M&A Strategy - Merck maintains a disciplined approach to M&A, focusing on smaller transactions and strategic acquisitions that align with its growth drivers [24][66] - The company has significant firepower for potential deals, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio well below 2% [24] Innovation and Sustainability - Merck is committed to integrating sustainability across its operations, with a goal of achieving 50% emission reductions by 2030 [53] - The company is leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency and drive innovation [57][58] Additional Important Points - Merck's customer-centric approach is designed to improve execution and capital efficiency across its business sectors [67] - The company is actively reviewing its portfolio to adapt to changing market conditions and ensure optimal capital allocation [15][18] - Geopolitical tensions and tariff impacts are being managed proactively to mitigate risks to the business [30][89] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during Merck's Capital Markets Day, highlighting the company's focus on growth, innovation, and sustainable practices across its diverse business sectors.