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News Release December 16, 2004	Phone +49 (0) 61 51/72-2578

Merck KGaA Acquires OLED R&D Project From Schott AG

Darmstadt, Germany - Merck KGaA announced today that it will acquire the Lumitec OLED research and development project of Schott AG of Mainz, Germany. All 20 employees involved in the R&D project have been offered positions with Merck.

Merck expects to complete the transaction in early January 2005. The purchase includes unlimited exclusive licenses for the business-related patents and associated assets of the project.

The Lumitec OLED (organic light-emitting diode) project involves ITO (indium tin oxide) coated glass substrates, a product for which Taiwan-based Merck Display Technologies (MDT), a unit of Merck KGaA´s Liquid Crystal Division, is one of the leading suppliers worldwide. As MDT already manufactures ITO coated glass for the liquid crystal display (LCD) industry, the Lumitec project will be integrated into Merck KGaA´s Liquid Crystal Division.

"We expect this R&D project and its staff will create immediate synergies with our own activities in the areas of glass handling, ITO coating and color filter production," said Paul Breddels, Executive Vice President, Liquid Crystals Division. "In addition, we see it as a first step into the emerging OLED lighting and signage market, especially for white goods, LCD backlights and automotive applications."

OLEDs are extremely thin light sources suitable for a wide variety of applications. They are made by placing a series of organic thin films between two conductors. When electric current is applied, they emit light.
Under the Lumitec project, Schott has developed small- to medium-size area lighting device prototypes based on OLEDs. Typical applications for such OLED products are illuminated touch panels for ovens, interior lighting for automotive applications, as well as orientation lights or backlights for small- to medium-size LCD´s.

SCHOTT AG media contact:
Klaus Hofmann, Head of Corporate Public Relations
Phone, Fax: +49 (0) 6131/66-3662, -4011
E-Mail: klaus-bernhard.hofmann@schott.com

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Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with sales of EUR 5.9 billion in 2004, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 28,900 employees in 52 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 a 73% interest and free shareholders own the remaining 27%. The former U.S. subsidiary, Merck & Co., has been completely independent of the Merck Group since 1917.

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