(4) Subsequent events
Following the previous announcement in October 2025, in February 2026 Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, committed to the U.S. government to provide certain prescription drug products at Most Favored Nation pricing for the government healthcare program Medicaid, offer fertility medications to patients at substantially discounted prices through direct-to-patient access, onshore for U.S. production the products sold in the United States by its Fertility and Rare Diseases business units by the end of 2028, and invest US$ 300 million in new or expanded manufacturing facilities in the United States by the end of 2028. In return, the Group receives tariff exemptions for its existing marketed and investigational product portfolio in the Healthcare business sector as well as associated pharmaceutical ingredients until January 1, 2029.
The Group does not expect any material impact on its financial position, cash flows or results of operations, with the exception of the investment-related cash outflows. The expected effects are included in the current forecast.
Subsequent to the balance sheet date, no other events of special importance occurred that are expected to have a material impact on the net assets, financial position or results of operations.