The Merck Group (EMD Group in USA and Canada) is a German multinational pharmaceutical, chemical and life sciences company headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany. It was founded by Friedrich Jacob Merck, who receives a privilege for a pharmacy in Darmstadt in 1668.


Since 1995, the current main parent company of the group is named Merck KGaA, and is itself mainly owned by the former main parent company, E. Merck oHG, which now operates as a holding company.

 

The group operates through the following main core business segments: Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials.